THE government will wait another month or two before lifting the ban on chicken exports, said Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob. 

Ismail said this is necessary to ensure the country’s chicken supply is sufficient and the price is stable even though there is an oversupply of chicken in the market. 

“We have discussed (this matter) among the cabinet but we cannot make a decision yet as the chicken price is still subsidised.

“We will wait one or two months. When this subsidy ends on August 31 and there is still an oversupply and the price is low, then we may be able to allow exports.

“We don’t want (to allow chicken exports) if the country’s chicken supply is insufficient, (which will) cause the price to rise,” he said in an interview broadcast on local television stations today. 

The government placed a ban on chicken exports from June 1 to address the domestic shortage of chicken that was driving up the price. 

But now there is an oversupply, and poultry farmers are urging the government to lift the ban. 

On the Special Task Force on Jihad Against Inflation set up by the government, Ismail said the task force is not only focused on tackling the issue of rising prices of goods, but its role has expanded to address the overall matter of inflation. 

He said only relevant ministries were involved in the task force initially, but after realising a more comprehensive committee is needed to tackle various issues, the government included the Finance Ministry and the Economic Planning Unit to the line-up.

Ismail said the committee will decide on intervention measures to tackle inflation. 

He said the task force had successfully implemented the intervention measure to resolve the surge in prices of chicken and eggs by providing subsidies. 

He said the Communications and Multimedia Ministry is involved in the task force to ensure that all information about the government’s decisions and measures reaches the people effectively. – Bernama, August 20, 2022.