WITH several chicken farm operators mulling a boycott over delay in subsidy payments, a lawmaker urged the Government to act fast before Malaysia suffers from a food crisis.
“The Government should step in and roll out subsidies immediately as food security is a very important matter.
“It cannot be delayed due to the incompetence or inefficiency of our ministers,” said Ipoh Barat MP M Kula Segaran.
Three days ago, Utusan Malaysia alleged that a group of cartels involving in the poultry business were planning to shut down chicken farms this coming weekend to protest against the Government’s purported delay in providing subsidies; 60 sen per chicken.
The closure over the weekend is expected to skyrocket chicken prices, affecting consumers and retailers.
“The ‘hidden hand’ tried to ration chicken supply in the market in the past but failed. So now, they are attempting to shut down farms.
“Their excuse is that the Government have been delaying to provide subsidy, given that chicken feed costs have escalated. They claim the authorities are unsympathetic towards the supply issues despite rising costs,” the daily quoted a source as saying.
Touching on the matter, Kula Segaran said that based on his own survey, chicken sellers themselves are mulling to go on strike as they unable to make money with the RM8.90 per kilogramme cap imposed by the Government.
“In Ipoh, when I visited the markets, I met with sellers who said they will go on strike as they are unable to make money following the ceiling price of RM 8.90 per kilogram set by the Government.
“The price, they say, is not feasible as that amounts to their cost price and would make no sense for them to do business like this,” the DAP leader mentioned.
Food security is important
With food prices escalating across the globe, Kula Segaran urged the Government to come up with a mechanism to address food shortage, given that Malaysia is heavily reliant on food imports.
He added that it was bizarre that Malaysia was food import bill was at a staggering RM50 bil a year despite the country having enough land and perfect weather for agriculture, not to mention the potential for urban farming and vertical farming.
“Why not we encourage more Malaysians to be involved in farming to protect our food security? Why not introduce subsidies and grants to start this business, provide free skilling and upskilling for vertical farming and allocate land for this purpose?”
With that, he lauded Ipoh Mayor Datuk Rumaizi Baharin for launching the Urban Farming project in Ipoh.
He added that such initiative could be implemented nationwide so that more people can participate in agriculture, even if it meant planting chilies in a small pot at home.
“If food shortage is not addressed, Malaysians from a lower income group may suffer tremendously and even lead to malnourishment,” Kula Segaran concluded. – May 22, 2022
