KUALA LUMPUR: The government has agreed that subsidies and price controls on chicken will be discontinued from Wednesday (Nov 1), said Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu.
He said, however, subsidies for grade A, B and C eggs would continue according to the existing mechanism.
"The termination of subsidies for chicken is in line with the approach of retargeting subsidies in phases implemented by the government," he told a press conference here today.
He said the government has allocated a total of RM3.8 billion in subsidies to cover the costs of chicken and eggs until February this year.
"The rationale for ending subsidies in bulk for chicken is to reduce leakages of subsidies, which are also enjoyed by foreigners and high-income groups," he said.
Also present at the press conference were Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister Chan Foong Hin, Treasury secretary-general Datuk Johan Mahmood Merican and Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohd Sayuthi Bakar.
Mohamad explained that the termination of chicken subsidies also took into account the current supply and price trends, with farm prices and production costs beginning to stabilise, leading to the current market prices being below the ceiling price.
In this regard, he said the government would ensure the sale price of chicken, once floated, remains at a reasonable rate.
"The government is expanding access to chicken supplies through continuous Agro MADANI and Rahmah Sales programmes nationwide to provide options and assurance to the people to obtain chicken at reasonable prices and below the current ceiling price.
"Through an engagement session with industry players on Oct 22, 2023, the government secured commitments from the industry to ensure that farmgate prices of chicken will not increase significantly and burden consumers," he said.
Mohamad said the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry would implement monitoring and enforcement through the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 to ensure there are no excessive profit-taking activities and price manipulation by irresponsible parties at the retail level.
He said the government would continue to collaborate with all stakeholders to ensure the supply and prices of chicken at the farms remain stable and not burden the people and there are no profiteering activities along the supply chain.
"The government will continue to focus on strengthening the poultry farming industry through incentives to small- and medium-sized breeders and micro-credit schemes as working capital assistance for community breeders as well as the transformation programme of open chicken coops to closed chicken coops.
"These measures will provide an improvement in terms of supply access directly from community breeders to wholesalers in the market," he said.
Meanwhile, Johan said that by ending chicken subsidies, the government could save about RM100 million a month.
When tabling the Budget 2024 on Oct 13, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that the temporary price controls for eggs and chicken will be lifted, as current trends indicate that the supply of both food items is now stable.
He said the move is to enable the local market to function freely in ensuring a sufficient supply of chicken and eggs.
Anwar also said that the floating of chicken and egg prices ensures that only eligible citizens, not foreigners or super-rich groups, benefit from the subsidies provided.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Mon Oct 30 2023
Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said the rationale for ending subsidies in bulk for chicken is to reduce leakages of subsidies, which are also enjoyed by foreigners and high-income groups. - Astro AWANI/SHAHIR OMAR
Jabatan Pengajian Antarabangsa dan Strategik UM mohon maaf kepada seluruh rakyat Malaysia
Dalam satu kenyataan pada Sabtu, jabatan itu menegaskan pihaknya kesal dan memandang serius terhadap perkara itu.
AWANI 7:45 [27/04/2024] - Siasatan sama ada Tun M salah guna kuasa | Jangkaan persaingan sengit | FFC umum tangguh misi | Mesyuarat khas dua hari
#AWANI745 malam ini bersama Dzulfitri Yusof;
1. Mokhzani dan Mirzan nafi disiasat SPRM
2. Pertandingan empat penjuru, PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu
3. Freedom Flotilla To Gaza ditangguh, delegasi dunia pulang
4. Mesyuarat Khas WEF berlangsung di Arab Saudi, ketika suhu geopolitik semakin panas
1. Mokhzani dan Mirzan nafi disiasat SPRM
2. Pertandingan empat penjuru, PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu
3. Freedom Flotilla To Gaza ditangguh, delegasi dunia pulang
4. Mesyuarat Khas WEF berlangsung di Arab Saudi, ketika suhu geopolitik semakin panas
Piala Thomas: Jangan pandang mudah Malaysia - Antonsen
Walaupun Malaysia membariskan skuad perseorangan kurang 'menyengat', Anders Antonsen masih menjangkakan saingan sengit.
Budak lima tahun cedera jatuh dari tingkat tiga flat
Seorang kanak-kanak perempuan berusia lima tahun cedera selepas dipercayai terjatuh dari tingkat tiga rumahnya di Flat Taman College Height pada Sabtu.
AWANI Ringkas: Kasino di Forest City
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Hamas sudah terima maklum balas Israel mengenai cadangan gencatan senjata
Gesaan dari seluruh dunia untuk satu gencatan senjata semakin meningkat dengan serangan ke atas Gaza kini memasuki bulan ketujuh.
World Economic Forum berbeza dari kelaziman
Lazimnya World Economic Forum (WEF) akan berlangsung setiap musim sejuk di Davos, Switzerland, lokasi lahirnya forum berprestij dunia ini sejak lebih lebih dekad lalu.
Dalam tempoh kira-kira tiga bulan, WEF keluar dari kelazimannya dengan menganjurkan mesyuarat khas dua hari, 28 hingga 29 April 2024 di Riyadh, Arab Saudi.
Ia memberi isyarat, kepentingan kestabilan rantau Asia Barat atau timur tengah ini, bukan perakara main-main.
#AWANI745
Dalam tempoh kira-kira tiga bulan, WEF keluar dari kelazimannya dengan menganjurkan mesyuarat khas dua hari, 28 hingga 29 April 2024 di Riyadh, Arab Saudi.
Ia memberi isyarat, kepentingan kestabilan rantau Asia Barat atau timur tengah ini, bukan perakara main-main.
#AWANI745
Pemain Astro Kem Badminton 2024 berpeluang berlatih di bawah jurulatih BAM
Wan Wah menjelaskan pemain-pemain yang dipilih akan menjalani latihan intensif itu di Akademi Badminton Malaysia (ABM).
#AWANI745
#AWANI745
PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu: Pengundi perlu pilih kestabilan - Fadillah
Fadillah berkata beliau percaya pengundi di kawasan tersebut, boleh membuat keputusan terbaik untuk menentukan calon paling layak untuk mewakili mereka.
Liga Parlimen Al-Quds: Malaysia gesa satu resolusi penyelesaian isu Palestin dapat dicapai
Malaysia antara lain mendesak Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (PBB) meluluskan resolusi menghantar tentera pengaman ke Palestin.
Orang ramai diingatkan tidak simpan stok beras dalam kuantiti besar
Semua pihak diingatkan untuk tidak menyimpan stok beras dalam kuantiti yang besar bagi mengelakkan berlakunya pembaziran bekalan makanan itu.
Isu beras: 'Boleh tegur, tapi jangan maki hamun' - Mat Sabu
Mohamad berkata tidak salah memberi teguran, tetapi sebaiknya dilakukan dalam cara lebih sesuai.
KPKM jamin bekalan makanan keperluan Aidilfitri mencukupi
Pihak kementerian memberi jaminan bekalan daging, ayam dan sayur sayuran cukup sepanjang sambutan Aidilfitri.
Kerajaan rangka dasar padi, beras demi kepentingan semua pihak
Mohamad berkata, kementeriannya mungkin mengambil masa tiga hingga empat bulan daripada sekarang sebelum mengumumkan dasar itu.
Kartel beras: Kerajaan tidak akan lindungi sesiapa - Mohamad
Pemantauan sentiasa dilakukan pihak berwajib untuk mengekang kewujudan kartel beras putih tempatan.
Mohamad Sabu terima kunjungan hormat Menteri Luar Argentina, persijilan halal antara dibincang
Menteri Pertanian dan Keterjaminan Makanan Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu menerima kunjungan hormat Menteri Luar Argentina Diana Mondino, semalam.
Harga beras putih import turun RM2-RM3 bermula esok
Kerajaan menerusi Mesyuarat Majlis Tindakan Sara Hidup Negara (NACCOL) bersetuju supaya harga jualan runcit beras putih import (BPI) diturunkan antara RM2 hingga RM3 di pasaran berkuat kuasa esok.
Bekalan, harga ayam stabil - Mohamad Sabu
Bekalan ayam pada masa ini adalah stabil dan faktor ini sekali gus menyumbang kepada kestabilan harga ayam semasa.
Sektor agromakanan catat pertumbuhan memberangsangkan - Mohamad Sabu
Sektor agromakanan tumbuh lebih kukuh pada 2023 dengan peningkatan 4.3 peratus kepada RM181.4 bilion berbanding RM173.9 bilion pada 2022.
Bekalan ayam, daging cukup menjelang sambutan Aidilfitri - Mohamad
Kerajaan memberi jaminan bahawa bekalan barangan asas seperti ayam dan daging mencukupi menjelang Ramadan serta sambutan Aidilfitri.