Ministry gives chicken wholesalers an earful

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SIBU: The Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism (MDTCC) here is unhappy with several wholesalers for hiking the prices of chicken and body parts without prior consultation.

Its Sibu branch chief Balraj Singh told The Borneo Post after a meeting with the town’s major wholesalers and suppliers yesterday that the ministry was very disappointed with them.

“We were not even in the picture when some wholesalers hiked prices of chicken and other parts on Monday, while others followed suit on Tuesday.

“The sudden surge in prices of these popular items caught us off-guard as they should have consulted or negotiated with the ministry before raising the prices.

“Major market players cannot manipulate the market prices at their whims and fancies and this could burden the consumers,” he said.

He warned that stern action could still be taken against unscrupulous traders even though the price control scheme was now over.

The visibly upset Balraj, however, heaved a sigh of relief as the industry players had assured him that they would bring down the prices of chicken and body parts.

“We have to act promptly to protect the interest of consumers and keep the prices of chicken stable.”

The matter came to light when a disgruntled consumer complained to The Borneo Post that a kilogramme of chicken wing had rocketed to RM15 from RM11 previously.

“Upon checking by our enforcement officers, besides chicken wings, prices of standard chicken, super chicken, chicken leg, gizzard, and others were found to have soared as well,” lamented Balraj, adding that chicken was a cheap and favourite source of protein among locals here.

He said they would not hesitate to enforce the new Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act on errant traders where an individual can be fined up to RM50,000 or two years jail or both upon conviction.

Companies, he cautioned, could be fined up to a hefty RM100,000.

Asked about the suppliers’ justification for hike in prices of chicken and body parts, Balraj disclosed he was made to understand that they (suppliers) were facing production problems.

He said suppliers told him they were hard hit by the escalating prices of feeds – soya beans and corns in the world market.

“They claimed during the meeting that the chicks suffered high mortality rate due to a viral infection (Gumboro) and although the situation was not serious, it had affected their production,” he said.

Balraj said the suppliers claimed that vaccination was also causative of their escalating operating cost.

“Whatever their reason is, they should not pass the buck to the consumers,” he said.

Meanwhile, a check from the Internet revealed that Gumboro disease affects chicks, and is a worldwide phenomenon.

Balraj warned traders not to take advantage by cashing in on the situation.

Turning to consumers, he advised them to alert his men if they came across any price hike.

“Rest assured that our enforcement officers are constantly on the ground to keep tabs of the situation,” he said.