TO say that netizens were not pleased about the supply shortage of eggs experienced during the final leg of former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri’s administration would be a severe understatement, with many still blaming the previous government for the issue.
However, there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel now that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s unity government had taken over Putrajaya and a new Agriculture and Food Security minister has entered the scene.
Just last week, the minister in question – Mohammad Sabu, or more fondly known as Mat Sabu – announced that the Government had agreed to import chicken eggs from several foreign sources as a short-term solution to meet domestic demand.
He also said his ministry has identified a number of sources to ensure the supply of chicken eggs in the market.
Soon after the announcement, analysts and the general public had taken to social media to express their opinion on the matter, with some netizens noting that there seems to be an increase in the number of eggs on supermarket shelves following the announcement – and no, these eggs are not imported.
This had led to netizens wondering if there is an egg cartel in the country, while others had speculated that local chicken farmers had intended to sell their eggs to Singapore instead of catering to the local market for higher prices.
User @cyrildason said, “Let me summarise, okay. Retailers say that eggs are in short supply. I tried to look for it everywhere but I couldn’t find them. Then price of eggs went up. Mat Sabu said, ‘let’s import because we do not have enough [eggs] and suddenly the [Selangor Poultry Breeders Association] says ‘Wait. No. We have the eggs. Don’t import’. Do you see what just happened? One word: BUSTED.”
I summarize okay:
Retailer say:”🥚in short supply. Cari everywhere kenot find.”
Egg price naik dan naik.
Mat Sabu said “Lets import🥚cz we dont hv enuf!”
Tiba2 Association says “Wait. No. We hav🥚. Dont import”Do u see wat js happened?
One word; KANTOI. https://t.co/WMmZHrbO1I— Cyril Dason (@cyrildason) December 13, 2022
Another user said:
The Association be damned – willing to compromise food security and deprive the nation of cheap access to protein to protect their own interests and monopolies – Mat Sabu should break this cartel!
— Azman Rahman 🏴 (@mazmanar) December 14, 2022
Another user questioned why chicken farmers prefer to sell their eggs to Singapore.
“These are Grade C, made in Malaysia eggs. Three dollars for 10 eggs. Almost RM10. If they suffer a loss, they wouldn’t want to send the eggs to Singapore. Singapore already has three private poultry farms which are enough for local consumption,” said user @hellocallmezane.
Sebetulnya chicken farmer prefer jual ke SG pasal apa?
Ni telur grade c, buatan malaysia. Tiga dollar untuk 10 biji. Almost rm10.
Kalau rugi, takde maunya dihantar sampai SG. SG sendiri ada 3 private poultry farm, cukup untuk local consumptions. pic.twitter.com/Hm9hUlKW0o
— Zane (@hellocallmezane) December 14, 2022
“Whoever has an extra plot of land behind their houses can rear 4–5 chickens to be less reliant on the chicken industry,” said user @farizshah.
Sapa2 yg ada tanah xtra belakang rumah tu boleh la dah bela ayam sendiri 4-5 ekor. Kurangkan kebergantungan pada industri ayam. Biar berjuta rakyat tak beli ayam baru ngam. Tumbangkan kartel
— Farizshah Gaskin (@farizshah) December 14, 2022
Meanwhile, user @cikebal made a very strange observation:
saya ada beli telur dari the store. tak sampai semiggu dalam satu papan tu mesti ada 5-6 biji yang buruk sampai tahap hitam. yang lain fresh je. adakah telur lama dicampur 🤔 kalau 1 – 2 biji macam maybe terlepas. but 5-6 biji ni ermm
— rancho (@cikebal) December 14, 2022
(I bought eggs from the store and in less than a week in one tray there would be 5–6 eggs that have gone bad to the point that they have turned black while others are still fresh. Are older eggs mixed with newer ones?)
User @Anne_Abbot003 pointed out that the minister (Mat Sabu) should go ahead and import those eggs to teach unscrupulous retailers a lesson.
“These people are so self-consumed in profiteering and in breaching business ethics and human values.” – Dec 15, 2022
I really feel the minister should go ahead and import those eggs and teach these unscrupulous retailers a lesson.
These people are so self consumed in profiteering and in breaching business ethics and human values.— Anne Abbot (@Anne_Abbot003) December 14, 2022
Main photo credit: Twitter
