PUTRAJAYA must encourage the Malaysian Islamic Development Department’s (Jakim) to make it easier for foreign chicken suppliers to gain halal certification, said Mydin Mohamed Holdings Bhd managing director Ameer Ali Mydin.

He said abolishing approved permits (AP) for poultry imports was not helpful if Jakim did not recognise the halal certification of the suppliers.

“Our problem now is that even though the government has removed APs for chicken imports, there are other obstacles, namely restrictions on halal certificates for the abattoirs or chicken processing plants overseas,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

For example, only seven Thai suppliers that are halal certified.

“So even though the government has lifted AP conditions, there are not many foreign suppliers that have halal certification, or that are recognised by Jakim.”

Situations like this lead to “chicken cartels” or groups of big suppliers with the power to fix prices, Ameer added.

Don’t make halal certification an obstacle

Putrajaya has halted exports of 3.6 million chickens from June 1 to ensure supply and price stability. The government has also abolished APs for imported chickens.

He said Jakim should not make it difficult for foreign suppliers to obtain halal certification.

“I urge Jakim not to burden the people. We are in a situation where we need to ensure enough food supply, and we want it to be halal, but don’t trouble the public by coming up with restrictions.

“Jakim can recognise the halal certificates of companies that have already been approved by Saudi Arabia, which is an Islamic country. Let’s be efficient about the situation,” Ameer said.

Jakim should also be less stringent about foreign chicken suppliers that are already halal certified at home, he said.

He said this was already Jakim’s practice with other imported products such as sardines and cosmetics.

Ameer said the government’s current measures will not improve the supply of chicken.

For example, the export ban on 3.6 million chickens will only grow supply by 6% of the 62.9 million birds Malaysian consume in a month, he said.

Customers at his supermarkets are limited to buying two whole chicken eachs, a measure adopted since Hari Raya earlier this month.

“We are just short of chickens, it’s not like there is no supply at all. Mydin is currently receiving 30-40% of our usual supply. What we have done is limit the purchase of whole chickens to two per customer,” he said.

The shortage is mainly of whole chickens, while supply for cut chicken is sufficient, he added.

Cut chicken costs more at RM12-14 per kg than standard chicken, which ceiling price is RM8.90 per kg.

The ceiling price has been in effect since February 5 and will expire on June 5. It costs the government RM729.43 million to subsidise the price.

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi has said the government is studying whether to keep the ceiling price. – May 26, 2022.