MORE EXPENSIVE: Various grades of eggs are seen on sale.
MIRI: A 60 sen increase per tray of grade A eggs here has angered consumers.
Housewife Elza Sahari said last month a tray of 30 grade A eggs only cost RM11.20.
“I was shocked to see the eggs sold increased up to 60 sen per tray now during the fasting month,” she complained yesterday.
She said the drastic hike would cause hardship to consumers, as eggs were essential for cakes and other delicacies for Ramadan and Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
The authorities concerned, she said, should monitor essential items like eggs so that consumers would not face extra burdens during the festive season.
Her sentiments were echoed by Latip Osman.
“Go to the ground and monitor the situation of consumers’ needs, especially every celebration to avoid being manipulated by certain quarters to get bigger profits,” he said, calling on the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism in particular.
A check on eggs found the following prices per tray of 30: Grade AA – RM12.10, grade A – RM11.80, grade B – RM11.50, grade C – RM11.20, grade D – RM9.80 and grade F – RM7.60.
According to an egg vendor, the increase in price was necessary because farms in Miri had hiked their prices.
“We also have to follow so as to gain some profit,” said the vendor.
Meanwhile, Consumers Association Miri (CAM) president George Francis said no official statement had been received regarding the increase from the authorities.
He added that there was also no report on any increase in the price of chicken feed from farm operators.
“There is no doubt the demand for eggs is there because of the fasting month and Hari Raya and that is no cause for relevant parties to hike up the prices to take advantage of the festival,” he said.
When contacted in Kuching, the ministry’s Miri branch chief Zakaria Awang said his officers would be despatched immediately to check on the increased prices.