KUCHING: Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) Sarawak has called for a review of the new chicken and egg price ceiling to make them more affordable to lower-income groups.
It said the State government should contribute to the subsidies to standardise the price of chicken and eggs for Sarawak.
The new maximum ceiling price rates for chicken and chicken eggs in Sarawak, it said, were found to be varying from one district to another.
“For example, the price of a standard retail chicken in Limbang/Lawas is RM12.90 per kg, while the price of standard retail chicken in Kapit, Bukit Mabong, Song, Belaga is RM11.40 per kg which is pricier than the ceiling price of standard chicken in a major city like Kuching which is set at RM9.40 per kg.
Muda Sarawak Chairman Jeffery Ngui Voon Chiang said in the statement, “We feel special attention should be given by the State government to reconsider lowering the chicken prices of the respective districts mentioned as the average household income is much lower compared to urban towns or cities in Sarawak,” it said in a statement on Sunday (July 3).
Apart from that, Muda Sarawak also called for a state-level special committee on the implementation of the National Food Security Policy Action Plan 2021-2025 to be established immediately.
This special committee, it said, should comprise respective government agencies, think tanks and various stakeholders to further improve food security in Sarawak.
It also hoped enforcement by the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affair can be done to ensure no wholesaler or retailer arbitrarily raises the price higher than the ceiling price.
Strict action must be taken in order to safeguard the welfare of the people of Sarawak, it added.
