LOW prices for chicken and eggs prompted the government to lift price controls for the two staple items to ensure sufficient supply, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told the Dewan Rakyat today. 

He said chicken and eggs are currently priced below ceiling rate.

“When the price is lower than the ceiling rate, like now, and the price of chicken and eggs in Thailand is lower than in Malaysia, this is the time we float,” the Tambun lawmaker said.

Last Friday, during the Budget 2024 speech, Anwar had announced that the temporary ceiling price imposed for chickens and eggs will be waived to allow room for the market to freely manoeuvre in ensuring uninterrupted supply.

Anwar urged people not to worry about the stocks, as he ensured that the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry has enough stock, should there be a shortage. 

“If it is true there is a shortage, then we will take from stock. The ministry has 30% of chicken and egg stocks. 

“I have told the minister to buy from Thailand, if there is a need to prevent the price from going up. That is the guarantee we can give,” he said. 

Anwar was responding to Rosol Wahid (Hulu Terengganu-PN), who asked to state the move to float the price of chicken and eggs and how it will not burden the people who are already dealing with a high cost of living. 

Anwar, who is also the finance minister, said the subsidy for chicken and eggs since last year had exceeded RM3.7 billion. 

He admitted that the subsidies are necessary for the people to deal with the high cost of living. However, the current blanket subsidy for chicken and eggs benefits all groups of people. 

“The current (subsidy) approach benefits 3.5 million foreigners and the super-rich. 

“Subsidies are not for the super rich. If a person’s income is above RM100,000 a month, the subsidy should not be given to them. That’s what I mean,” he added. – October 17, 2023.