KUALA LUMPUR: The government's ceiling price for standard chicken set at RM8.90 per kilogramme appears to have "flown the coop", with many traders opting to sell the item beyond the stipulated price limit.
Accusations of price manipulation, as well as supply shortage, have fouled the situation even further and left consumers, especially those observing Ramadan, having to bear the brunt of the price increase.
Checks by the New Straits Times at several markets in the Klang Valley showed that some traders were selling chicken at up to RM2 beyond the ceiling price.
At the wet market in Lucky Garden, Bangsar, at least three chicken stall operators were selling chicken at RM11 per kg.
This move was in clear defiance of the government's price control order, which was fixed at RM8.90 per kg and enforced from Feb 5 to June 5.
This was a mark down from RM9.10 per kilogramme under the Malaysian Family Maximum Price Scheme from Feb 1 to 4.
At the Taman Tun Dr Ismail market, all chicken stall operators had set the price at RM9.50 per kg.
A stall operator, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it wasn't his fault that he sold chicken beyond the ceiling price.
"Don't blame me. How are we supposed to profit when the supplier sells it to us at RM8.70 per kilogramme? How do I then sell it at RM8.90 per kg to consumers?
"There is no other way than to increase it a little. Otherwise, I will not earn anything at all. All I get at the end of the day is exhaustion from running my stall.
"Blame the authorities instead. They should be regulating the prices with the suppliers first.
"If the price from the source can be reduced, then we can lower it in line with the government's ruling," he said.
Housewife Siti Asmah Md Shapi,37, said the upward price factor was a burden for her, especially during Ramadan, and expressed worry that it would further escalate as Hari Raya Aidilfitri nears.
The authorities, she said, must act fast to tackle the problem by announcing the Festive Season Maximum Price Control Scheme so that consumers could buy raw food materials at a fair price.
This was also important to prevent traders from profiteering during the festivities, she said.
"I have been buying whole standard chicken at RM9.80 per kg at a supermarket in Taman Ehsan in Kepong. I noticed the rise in prices a few days ago, so obviously they are flouting the rules.
"The price was also the same at another supermarket. There is nowhere else for me to go and shop because the prices are more or less the same. So what other option do I have?
"Consumers are caught in the middle," said the mother of three from Bandar Sri Damansara.
Customer Soon Lai Oi said the price of chicken had been rising steadily since a few months ago from RM6.99 per kg up to RM9.90 per kg recently.
The 68-year-old from Damansara Utama said she preferred to buy from supermarkets instead of wet markets these days to save a few ringgit.
"Supermarkets will adhere to the government's orders for fear of being penalised and their prices are consistent and within a fixed range, sometimes a bit lower.
"Most wet market stall operators do not put up their prices as required by the authorities and this opens the room for profiteering. The authorities should keep an eye on those trading at wet markets and ensure that they follow the rules.
"People must also be smart consumers by surveying prices and avoid those who charge unreasonably." - NST
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