KUCHING: The Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Ministry is proposing the implementation of a price ceiling for pork to stabilise the price and prevent further price hike, especially during the Lunar New Year period.
Its minister Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said they would propose the matter to the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Living Costs.
“A continuous engagement will be done with the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Living Costs as well as pig associations and other industry stakeholders to address the issue of pork supply, especially during the Lunar New Year period and to facilitate the formulation of unified pork prices for the New Year period.
“My ministry is also proposing the implementation of a price ceiling for pork to the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Living Costs.
“The aim is to stabilise the price and prevent further price hike. For example, ‘lean with skin on’ is currently sold at RM31.50-RM32 per kg, while pork belly is priced at RM34-RM35 per kg at Borneo Pork retail outlets. In Sibu and Miri wet markets, ‘lean meat with skin on’ is sold between RM33-RM40 per kg,” said Dr Rundi.
He told this to New Sarawak Tribune on Monday (Jan 2) in response to Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) chairman Chong Chieng Jen, who urged for stable pork prices during the upcoming Chinese New Year.
He noted that the upward pressure on pork prices had gained momentum during Christmas and New Year holidays due to the limited supplies and increased demand, which is a common phenomenon worldwide.
The statistics of the Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak (DVSS) revealed that there are two main sources of fresh pork supply for the Sarawak market, Dr Rundi said.
“The first major supplier of fresh pork is the Pig Farming Area (PFA) in Pasir Puteh, Simunjan, sold through Precious Food Products Sdn Bhd at more than 17 retail outlets under the brand Borneo Pork. DVSS observed that there is no increase in the selling price of pork by this company.
“The breeders of different scales outside PFA are the other major supplier, whose live pigs are sold to butchers, and thereafter, the pork is sold in wet markets, food vendors, and butcher shops. The pork that is sold by these market outlets is the one that has been found to have increased in price in recent months,” he added.
As such, he said the state government was allowing for the importation of frozen pork from exporting countries that are free from Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) as a short-term measure.
This measure, he asserted, was undertaken as an alternative to address the shortage supply of fresh pork and a key step towards stabilising the price.
For a medium to long-term measure, he said the Sarawak government was planning to establish more PFA to expand the production of this commodity to meet both domestic and foreign demand.
He added that the government would also facilitate the development of Modern Pig Farm with Zero Discharge, a closed-house system, Biogas and Biosecurity infrastructure to ensure Sarawak has surplus pork and continues to export.
Having said that, he pointed out that the state government had paid out compassionate assistance amounting to RM5.6mil to more than 390 pig farmers who were affected by ASF in 2022, with another RM2mil to be paid this year.
Dr Rundi emphasised that the price control over essential food items was under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Living Costs, Chong’s former ministry.
He said his ministry, through the DVSS only had the autonomy to regulate livestock development, disease control and matters pertaining to import and export control.
However, he assured that the Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Ministry would work closely with relevant authorities to help in addressing the pork price hike issue.
“With the full cooperation of all stakeholders, I am confident that the pork prices will stabilise soon to give consumers peace of mind for Chinese New Year.”
