LANGKAWI – The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry (KPDNHEP) has given an assurance that the issue of high chicken prices and a supply shortage in the market will be resolved within two weeks.
Its Deputy Minister Datuk Rosol Wahid said a meeting with the Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry (Mafi) was held last week to find a solution to the issue that was said to have occurred in several areas.
According to him, among the solutions discussed in the meeting were KPDNHEP will consider importing chicken to address supply shortage and stabilise prices.
“It is not only about the increase in prices but there is also a shortage of chicken supply in the market, for example in Terengganu.
“Our ministry, together with Mafi, will find ways to overcome it,” he told a press conference after officiating the national-level Buy Malaysian Products Campaign here today.
On the issue of subsidised cooking oil packets, Rosol admitted that there was a shortage of supply in the market as producers have not been able to produce as they have not received the subsidy payment from the government.
“We will discuss the matter with the Finance Ministry to settle the subsidy payment to the cooking oil producers,” he said.
Meanwhile, Rosol said the restaurant owner in Langkawi who went viral for selling a sea bass dish at a cost of RM1,196 has until Wednesday to provide an explanation to the ministry on the price of food sold at the premises.
He said the restaurant owner was previously issued a notice to explain about the cost of food sold at the outlet but failed to provide detailed information on the matter.
It was reported that a Facebook user has expressed shock after he was charged RM1196.80 for a sea bass dish while eating at a floating restaurant in Langkawi. – Bernama, November 13, 2021
