The traders are now up in arms against the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) for forcing them to use freezers.
Gabungan Peniaga-peniaga Ayam Pulau Pinang deputy chairman Muhd Shaffi told FMT today that they were dissatisfied with the response that the city council issued last night.
In a media statement, MBPP said ending the slaughter of chicken at wet markets has been the housing and local government ministry’s plan since 2006 to curb contagious illnesses.
MBPP said that the centralised distribution at Batu Lanchang was planned to ease the transition, and its management was awarded to a local company via open tender.
The monopoly has also irked the traders.
Shaffi said the MBPP’s lack of transparency over the company in charge of the distribution raised grave concerns for him and his fellow Muslim traders.
“They’re saying it’s a local company, but who are they?” he asked. “It took the government 40 years to discover the ‘meat cartel’, so we are not taking our chances.”
He also questioned why MBPP insisted on one company monopolising distribution when having multiple local traders could help share the burden of demand.
“If hygiene really is the issue, then help existing traders meet the benchmark.”, he said.
MBPP has clarified that traders can alternatively get supplies from other sources and said sources only need to be certified with the Veterinary Health Mark (VHM).
“They’re saying that we only need VHM now,” Shaffi said. “But previously they told us we needed all three from VHM, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points, and the Islamic development department.”
He also pooh-poohed MBPP’s estimate of RM3,000 for a suitable freezer in the statement.
“RM3,000? They told us that it would cost RM12,000 each,” he said.
Shaffi also told FMT that the group’s primary concern was over the quality and legitimacy of their poultry.
“First of all, if we put our poultry in freezers,” he said “we would be no different from hypermarkets for our customers. Why should they buy from us at all?”
Asked about the group’s next course of action, Shaffi said they will continue to protest the regulation.