This includes providing detailed information, if any, on the alleged cartels which are controlling chicken supply and raising prices higher than the current RM9.40 per kg ceiling.

In an Utusan Malaysia report, five cartels were accused of monopolising the sector worth RM10 billion annually.

It quoted domestic trade and consumer affairs minister Alexander Nanta Linggi as urging the public to lodge official reports on the matter.

“If anyone has any information you are sure of, then come forward to help us so that we can work together to find a solution to this long-standing issue,” he said.

The report said a chicken cartel was trying to raise the price of chickens to RM11 per kg by controlling the sale of chicks to farmers.

Nanta said his ministry would wait for an official announcement from the Malaysian Competition Commission (MyCC) on the matter.

In August, MyCC said five chicken feed millers were found to have engaged in anti-competitive agreements and concerted practices to increase the price of poultry feed.

MyCC CEO Iskandar Ismail said these companies increased the price of poultry feed which contained soybean meal and maize as its main ingredients between early 2020 and mid-2022.

However, the Federation of Livestock Farmers’ Associations of Malaysia dismissed claims of chicken cartels, saying that it was illogical as farmers would not be suffering losses if such cartels existed.