Ministry deletes FB post on chicken prices that ruffled feathers

 

Social media users have cried foul over a Facebook post on chicken prices, accusing the government of favouring hypermarkets over wet markets.

PETALING JAYA: The domestic trade and consumer affairs ministry has removed a Facebook post on chicken prices that ruffled the feathers of social media users.

The post had featured an illustration of two people comparing chicken prices at wet markets and hypermarkets.

One of the characters in the illustration explains that chicken at hypermarkets are cheaper and of the same quality as those sold in wet markets.

However, social media users cried foul, accusing the ministry of being biased by promoting hypermarkets.

Facebook user Khairul Anuar Basri said the posting had an “ill-intended” consequence of helping the “rich become richer and the poor become poorer” as it promoted big businesses over smaller ones.

Another user, Azzif Anuwar, said the ministry should be looking for ways to help everyone instead of taking sides.

Meanwhile, a group representing traders at the Selayang market said the poster discriminated against wet market traders.

Mohamad Pandu Insan Yahya, the chairman of Persatuan Penjaja dan Peniaga Kecil Melayu Pasar Borong Harian Selayang, said wet market traders were “small players” and that their prices depended on the prices set by suppliers.

“When suppliers set high prices, we have to sell at high prices, too. Our profit margin is the same, only the prices change, he said.

Pandu said the ministry should find a fair solution to the problem without pointing fingers at any one party.

He said traders also did not like high prices because they had an impact on consumers.

FMT has reached out to the ministry for comment. - FMT