Hypermarkets will also be allowed to import whole chicken on their own, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said in a statement today after chairing a special meeting on food production with the National Action Council on Cost of Living.

In addition, the ceiling price for chicken has been reduced by 20 sen to RM8.70 per kg. The price of eggs will remain the same.

This will be effective from Feb 5 to June 5.

“Proactive action needs to be implemented by the government to ensure that prices remain affordable.

“At the same time, we must ensure the poultry industry is not affected and can ensure supply remains stable.”

A number of other decisions were made with an eye on controlling chicken and egg prices in the short term, he said.

Ismail said the finance ministry would be asked to study tax incentives to encourage the upgrading of poultry farms.

The Malaysia Competition Commission would also be directed to investigate if cartels were involved in chicken and egg pricing.

He added that the government would provide subsidies to ensure prices can be effectively controlled. Further details would be revealed later.

In the long term, Ismail said matters discussed included supporting research from the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute into the use of palm oil-based feed, encouraging state governments to extend temporary occupation licences for agricultural use and enhancing food security.

We are live on Telegram, subscribe here for breaking news and the latest announcements.