“This government should be led by leaders who are principled and who will not bow to major traders and ‘bloodsuckers’,” he said in a video posted on his Facebook page.

“If they (Putrajaya) are brave enough, they would have gone after the chicken suppliers who hoard.”

In May, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced a campaign aimed at middlemen to tackle price manipulation and hoarding of goods in light of the increasing price of chicken.

In a statement, he warned that the government would revoke the permits of companies found guilty of hoarding supplies.

He said that the attorney-general had advised the Cabinet that action could be taken under the Control of Supply Act 1961 (Act 122).

Anwar, who is a former finance minister, shared that during his years in Putrajaya, the officers from the domestic trade and consumer affairs ministry (KPDNHEP) would form task force units to go after major chicken suppliers suspected of hoarding supplies during festive seasons.

These officers, he added, would only focus on the unscrupulous chicken suppliers as opposed to chicken sellers and wholesalers.

“The current government is not doing this,” he said.

“We chose political leaders who say a lot, but yet, they don’t have the courage to face the problems (caused by) wealthy traders.”

The country is faced with a shortage in chicken supply, largely due to the rising cost of chicken feed.

The ceiling price for standard chicken has been set at RM9.40 per kg in Peninsular Malaysia since July 1, with the previous ceiling price set at RM8.90.