The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) said the abuse of import APs had resulted in the surge in prices of essential goods while AP holders profited.

Fomca secretary-general Paul Selvaraj said a Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC) report had found that the rise in food prices was caused by market manipulation by middlemen and the presence of multiple intermediaries, among others.

The MyCC report also identified the manipulation of APs as a reason for the increase in food prices, he said in a statement.

“Concrete steps need to be taken to ensure that the import of food and essentials is undertaken by parties that would ensure lower prices for consumers. Consumers will then benefit through lower prices of imported chicken and food.

“If the government is serious about decreasing food prices then it should take action against those manipulating prices and thus causing suffering among consumers, especially low-income consumers.

“Through the food supply chain market study by MyCC, these offenders have been identified.”

He said Putrajaya could take action through the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act and the Competition Act.

Yesterday, Mydin hypermarket managing director Ameer Ali Mydin urged Putrajaya to be transparent in the awarding of APs to import whole chickens, saying his company has applied for the permits but has yet to receive a response.

Ameer, a vice-president of the Malaysia Retailers Association, said other retailers have also informed him that they did not get any APs despite the government’s announcement that it would allow more imports.

“We have no idea who is getting the APs to import whole chickens. If retailers can get the APs, then we can bring in the chickens directly and sell them at a lower price rather than having to go through third parties,” he said.

Last week, domestic trade and consumer affairs minister Alexander Nanta Linggi said the prices for fresh chicken and eggs may go up after Feb 4 when the government’s price control scheme ends.