Negri chicken supply now stable, says exco man

SEREMBAN: The chicken supply in Negri Sembilan has stabilised, says state executive councillor S. Veerapan.

He said that only one or two areas were still experiencing short supply but in general, the situation was back to normal.

“We have been conducting regular checks at wholesale and retail levels as well as at markets in the state, and found there is sufficient supply of chicken.

“The authorities have also not received any complaint of traders hiking up prices,” he said when met after a visit to a hypermarket here on Wednesday (May 25).

Asked about the cause of the shortage earlier, Veerapan – who is the health, environment, cooperatives and consumerism committee chairman – said it was probably the high consumption of chicken during the recent Aidilfitri festive season.

Veerapan said checks by Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry officers also found no hoarding of stocks in the affected areas.

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“We hope the public will report to us if they experience a supply shortage and price increase in their respective areas.

“There should be no reason for this as we have many chicken farms in the state,” he said, adding that chicken was also brought in from Selangor.

He said if the people chose to remain silent, the authorities would not know if they were being overcharged.

Veerapan said Malaysia produced some 62 million birds a month and the consumption was around 54 million, with the excess being exported.

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However, the Cabinet decided on Monday (May 23) to temporarily ban the export of chicken with effect from June 1 until local supplies stabilise nationwide.

Veerapan also advised consumers to only buy the amount of chicken they needed as panic-buying may also lead to a shortage.

On a separate matter, Veerapan said checks also showed there was enough supply of cooking oil in the state.