The price of chicken had rose by 50 sen per kg from March 6, thrusting it above the ceiling price.
The Malaysian Federation of Livestock Farmers Associations, however, has submitted an appeal to the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry, claiming the price had to be higher than the ceiling price due to rising costs incurred by farmers and an erratic demand.
Standard chicken (dressed with shank, head, liver and gizzard) is now sold at RM6 per kg while a super chicken (dressed but without shank, head, liver, and gizzard) is now priced at RM6.70 per kg.
A live chicken (ex-farm) is now priced at RM4.50 per kg while the whole sale price of a chicken (dressed) is RM5.40 per kg.
The federation's broiler unit chairman, Kwei Yew Chong, blamed the price hike on the fluctuating rate of demand from customers. "Due to the many election campaigns and ceramah before the election, demand for the supply of chicken increased as much as 20 per cent and the price has maintained at that level," he said.
His deputy, Yap Kim Wah, said farmers were not gaining any benefit from the price hike, however. "Farmers are facing daily losses due costs of transport and production of raw materials increasing by 100 per cent," he said.
Yap said that the federation had submitted a petition to the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry to remove chicken from the list of controlled items. He said Malaysia is the only country in the world that has placed chicken on the list of controlled items.
Ministry assistant director (supply and pricing unit) Mizool Amir Mat Drus said the ministry was aware of the price hike but will only act after further investigation.
The appeal by the federation was being considered but it would not be an easy task to remove chicken from the list of controlled items as the Price Control Act 1946 would have to be amended.
