Chicken price solution ‘within two weeks’

 

Chicken prices have been reported to have risen at several places, amid a supply shortage.

LANGKAWI: A solution to high chicken prices and a supply shortage in the market will be available within two weeks, according to deputy domestic trade and consumer affairs minister, Rosol Wahid.

He said a meeting with the agriculture ministry was held last week to find a solution to the issue which was said to have occurred in several areas.

He said the domestic trade and consumer affairs ministry would consider importing chicken to address the supply shortage issue and stabilise the prices.

“It is not only about the increase in prices but there is also a shortage in the chicken supply, for example in Terengganu. Our ministry together with the agriculture ministry will find ways to overcome it,” he told reporters at a Buy Malaysian Products Campaign here today.

Rosol admitted that there was a shortage of subsidised cooking oil packets as producers have not received the subsidy payment from the government.

“We will discuss with the finance ministry to settle the subsidy payment problem,” he said.

On another matter, Rosol said the owner of the restaurant in Langkawi which went viral for selling a sea bass dish at a cost of RM1,196 has until Wednesday to provide an explanation on the price of food sold at the premises.

He said the restaurant owner had previously been issued a notice to explain about the cost of food sold at the outlet but failed to provide detailed information on the matter.

It was reported that a Facebook user had expressed shock after he was charged RM1196.80 for a sea bass dish while eating at a floating restaurant in Langkawi. - FMT