Stopping chicken export may cause negative effects to country - Loke

 

The government’s decision to suspend the monthly export of chickens was a drastic move and might cause negative effects on the nation, said DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke.

He said the government should instead focus on the food supply chain as a whole and come up with a long-term solution to tackle food shortage, and not wait for it to turn into a crisis.

"Even though the food supply might increase in the short-term, our economy and other matters seemed to be affected," the Seremban MP said in a press conference after visiting Pasar Pudu in Kuala Lumpur today.

He was joined by his colleagues Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai, Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun, Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, and also by the Persatuan Penjaja-penjaja dan Peniaga Kecil Pudu Kuala Lumpur chairperson Lim Kin He.

During the visit, the MPs listened to the complaints from chicken traders, including Lim, about the insufficient supply of broilers.

At the press conference, Loke explained that broiler suppliers gain cross-subsidy through exportation, and they usually have a long-term contract with their overseas buyers, so the suspension would lead to contract breach and losses.

"Such policy and move will have a negative impact on the image of our country as a trading nation.

"The government can ban the exportation of one item today, but what will happen if there is another shortage of another food item tomorrow? Will the government put a stop to the export also?

"This will set a dangerous precedent and cast doubts on foreign countries towards Malaysia’s supply chain," said Loke.

Food inflation

In the same press conference, Loke criticised the government for not viewing the entire food supply chain as a whole when handling the issue of food shortage.

He said the inflation also affected other goods such as meat and vegetables, citing an example of the price of pork which skyrocketed from around RM20 per kilogram to almost RM40 now.

People will then choose to buy other meat, such as chicken because pork is now too expensive and this resulted in a shortage of chickens, he explained.

Loke, therefore, reiterated the need for the government to come up with long-term measures on this issue.