PORK dealers in the Klang Valley are furious with the decision of Tip Top Meat Sdn Bhd – the only legal slaughterhouse in Selangor – for cutting down its operating hours.

The dealers said the company’s decision to include Tuesday, in addition to Sundays, as a non-operational day had caught them off guard.

They added they are now working on a solution to avoid disruptions to the supply chain.

Lee Peng Hock, chairman of the Butchers Association of Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, told The Malaysian Insight the unexpected announcement has caused “significant inconvenience”.

“The traders now have to find freezer storage space to hold supplies for two days,” Lee said.

“This has led to some of us taking an extra day off because we cannot get fresh pork.

“Tip Top never discussed with us what it planned to do.”

The slaughterhouse has issued a statement explaining why it has cut down its  slaughtering days.

The slaughterhouse has explained that it is closed on Tuesdays because the supply of pigs on those days has dropped from 3,000 to fewer than 500 pigs.

As most of the pigs are from Perak, the high cost of transporting them here is further exacerbated by “strict regulations”.

Taking their business elsewhere

Pork supplier Soo Yau Sheng warned a disruption could force suppliers like him to take their businesses to slaughterhouses in Perak or Penang.

But that decision, Soo said, could push up the price of pork in Selangor.

“The already high transport cost further adds to the expenses for the middlemen. Currently, we are absorbing the higher cost but if it becomes unsustainable, it may be passed on to the consumers,” he said.

Prices in the long term would depend on how long Tip Top intends to keep up a five-day week, he added. “If it lasts, it will certainly be a heavy burden.”

Soo, however, made it clear that Tip Top’s decision would only cause a supply disruption and not a shortage.

He said supply now is at saturation point becayse of imports.

“The demand for locally slaughtered pork is not as significant as before,” he said.

He said some vendors – particularly bak kut teh sellers – have recently opted to use imported frozen pork.

“These days only those who love fresh pork will buy local.”

Pork wholesaler Ang Ban Lee, said Tip Top’s reduced operating hours has had no impact on his business.

He said all he has to do is to stock up more on Tuesdays and Sundays.

Ang said business is currently slow due to the rainy season but said he would be worried if the issue is not resolved.

“The winter solstice is next month and it’s time for the Chinese to prepare for the Lunar New Year.

“If there is insufficient pork, then the community would be in trouble.”

Ang, who is the assistant honorary secretary at the Butchers Association of Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, said he has written to the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry to get Tip Top to reconsider its decision. – November 18, 2023.