KUALA LUMPUR: The price of chicken in the market has risen slightly but it will not reach the ceiling price of RM11.40 per kg, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said prices have increased by some 30 sen and that the authorities would continue to monitor the situation.
"For example, in Mydin, they are still selling chicken under RM9 per kg, sometimes RM7.90 per kg, sometimes RM8.
"We will continue to hold engagement sessions whether with large-scale or small-scale chicken farmers to ensure that the supply of chickens and eggs is sufficient."
He said prices would be determined by the market though they would not reach the ceiling price of RM11.40 per kg.
Meanwhile, Mohamad said the price of chicken has stabilised due to steadying prices of imported corn and soybean for poultry feed.
He said the price of chicken could even be reduced if the ringgit grew stronger.
"Today, the ringgit is at 4.69 to the US dollar… Once the ringgit strengthens, the prices of imported corn and soybean for poultry feed will also go down."
Mohamad was responding to a supplementary question from Sim Tze Tzin (PH-Bayan Baru).
Sim had asked if the government would reintroduce the approved permits (AP) to control the number of imports, ensuring that there would be no profusion of chickens, thus allowing local entrepreneurs to grow the sector to achieve the self-sufficiency ratio (SSR) of 140 per cent.
To this, Mohamad said the ministry would look at the current market periodically to ensure that the supply of chicken was sufficient, before deciding to restrict the import of chicken into the country.
"What's most important is that the chicken prices are stable."
He said Malaysia as a whole had a surplus of eggs, though there were areas that reported shortages.
"If we receive the reports, we will act promptly to fill the shortages," he added.