Kota Kinabalu MP Chan Foong Hin and Rasah MP Cha Kee Chin believe that this is the main reason for the hike in pork prices, as the rising cost of livestock feed and other related costs has forced them to reduce their output.

“Pig farmers also play an important role in achieving and maintaining national food security.

“It is important that pig farmers increase their output of pork production, as any decrease would certainly affect national food security,” they said in a joint statement.

The MPs also called for Putrajaya to acknowledge the important role played by pig farmers and help them by providing financial assistance, including guarantees, loans, cost-sharing arrangements, wage subsidies, feed subsidies and entrepreneurship grants.

They added that state governments could assist by giving a waiver or reduction on quit rent or assessment taxes.

“State governments can also assist in reducing red tape, speed up issuances of licences or help with the fulfilment of other legal requirements when setting up pig farms,” they said.

The MPs said these suggestions would help pig farmers increase pork production, keep pork prices at a reasonable level and maintain national food security in the long run.

It was recently reported that the price of pork in the Klang Valley is expected to go up by RM2 per kg due to a hike in costs, according to the KL Selangor Butchers’ Association.

Its chairman Lee Peng Hock said the price of 100kg of pork was currently at RM1,140. However, he did not disclose the retail price as it varies from one butcher to another.

Previously, Lee said, the price of 100kg of pork was RM700 during the Chinese New Year period (Jan 31 to Feb 6), but went up to RM1,060 as of Feb 28.

He added that if the price hike continued, no one would be able to afford pork anymore.