Its minister Mohamad Sabu said that targeted subsidies were seen as more appropriate to ensure that only the needy would benefit from them.

“If the increase (in chicken prices) is extreme, we intend to give targeted subsidies to the affected B40 group because if we give blanket subsidies, it will only benefit the towkay (boss) and big manufacturers.

“… the price of (chicken feed) grain corn and soya bean has decreased, therefore the price of chicken has also dipped. There are even places that sell chicken for less than RM7 (per kg),” he said when winding up the debate on the 2024 supply bill for the ministry in the Dewan Rakyat.

Mohamad said it was the right decision to stop the subsidy for chicken.

He said suppliers had given the assurance that the supply was sufficient for now, adding that production would also be stepped up.

Meanwhile, commenting on Padiberas Nasional Bhd’s (Bernas) rice monopoly issue, he said its privatisation model was based on cross-subsidy, meaning that import profits would be used to carry out duties and responsibilities given by the government.

“Compared to the previous concession agreement between the government and Bernas, improvements have been made by determining that Bernas will carry out 10 social obligations on behalf of the government worth RM3.2 billion. These cover various programmes and incentives throughout the value chain for the period of the new concession agreement (which ends in 2031).

“Therefore, the policy implemented at this point is still relevant in facing the current situation. Bernas’s performance as the main rice importer is constantly monitored and evaluated by the government through the achievement of its key performance,” he said.