KUALA LUMPUR: Compounds totalling RM65,300 were issued to errant chicken stall operators for selling standard chicken beyond the RM8.90 per kg ceiling price as well as failing to display price tags.
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said the compounds were issued during the nationwide enforcement from Feb 5 to April 5 at 39,950 premises selling standard chicken.
"Up to 18 premises violated the law by increasing the ceiling price while 470 premises failed to display price tags.
"Compounds valued at RM65,300 were issued to the offenders," he told the New Straits Times.
He was responding to NST's front page report on Wednesday on the hike in standard chicken ceiling prices from RM8.90 per kg up to RM11 and RM9.50 per kg at the Lucky Garden and Taman Tun Dr Ismail wet markets.
Nanta reminded all players in the supply chain not to take advantage of the country's border reopening from April 1 and the Ramadan month festivities by unnecessarily increasing the prices of goods or they would face harsh action and fines.
The ministry's engagement with farm suppliers has been an actively ongoing measure taken to ensure poultry supplies are sufficient to meet the current demands and suppliers adhere to the price control mechanism imposed, he said.
"Monitoring of activities and enforcement have been heightened ever since the government implemented the Keluarga Malaysia Maximum Price Scheme.
"We have our authorities consistently monitor prices to ensure suppliers and businesses are complying with the law such as displaying prices, scrutinising weighing machines and whether there is any profiteering going on," he added.
On the call by the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations for Approved Permits to import whole chicken to be abolished as it had allowed certain parties to control and manipulate the prices of chicken, Nanta said it was done on a temporary basis to address the issue of supply shortage.
At the same time, it also served to stabilise the prices in the market despite the subsidies given to poultry farmers, he said.
"With the robust enforcement activities on the ground to curb the violation of the maximum ceiling price scheme on poultry, the ministry will step up efforts to unceasingly conduct investigations to ensure there are no price cartels or manipulation by middlemen.
"The Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC) has also announced the formation of a special task force in February to investigate competition related issues in the chicken and eggs industry following the directive given by the National Action Council on Cost of Living.
"So far, MyCC has been receiving support from industry players and all other relevant parties," he said.
On claims by the Consumers Association of Kedah (Cake) on Tuesday that suppliers are enforcing a new delivery charge on retailers, Nanta said a thorough probe was underway.
"I have mentioned before that even an increase of one sen which exceeds the maximum selling price set by the government is prohibited.
"We will take stern action. This matter is being investigated under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011," he said.
Cake honorary secretary Yusrizal Yusoff had said the charges meant retailers had to pay more to obtain their supply of chicken.
He had alleged that chicken was sold at RM8.50 per kg, below the ceiling price, but it shot up to RM9.50 per kg recently after the suppliers imposed delivery service charges on retailers.