ALOR STAR: The Consumers Association of Kedah (Cake) has lauded the government move to maintain subsidies for chicken and eggs.

However, its president Yusrizal Yusoff urged the relevant authorities to intensify efforts in developing the domestic poultry sector, since injecting direct subsidies to the producers was not a sustainable solution.

"We wish to thank the government for maintaining subsidies for chicken farmers and eggs producers for the time being.

"Nevertheless, Cake is urging the government to intensify efforts to develop our poultry sector so that we can achieve a self-sufficiency level.

"Injecting direct subsidies to the farmers is not a sustainable solution for the economy in the long run," he said when contacted.

Yusrizal reiterated Cake's stand yesterday that the government should develop as many as possible young players in the agriculture industry, particularly in the poultry sector.

This, he said, was in line with the government's aspiration to reduce import bills for foods and ensure food security for the country.

"We need to reduce dependency for imported foods and agriculture. This where we need a sound R&D (research and development) in the industry.

"The government needs to seriously look into breaking market monopoly by nurturing new players so that we can increase domestic production.

"Once we have a healthy price competition, consumers will have access to cheaper goods while the government will be able to stop subsidies to the farmers and producers," he said.

Yesterday, the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry, as well as the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry, had announced in a joint statement that the decision to maintain the subsidies for chicken and eggs was made after taking into account all aspects, including the sustainability of the poultry industry.

"The decision to continue providing subsidies and to control the price of chicken and eggs was made to ensure the welfare of the people in line with the aspirations of the Malaysia Madani government," said both ministries.

The announcement came a day after Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu was reported as saying the government will be floating the prices of chicken and eggs from July 1 after the removal of subsidies by the end of the month.

In a written reply in Dewan Rakyat, Mohamad had said the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry would then evaluate and control the price of the items compared to the current retail ceiling price.

Earlier today, Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub had said in Kota Baru that the decision to continue injecting RM200 million subsidies for chicken and eggs proved that the government continues to take care of the people's well-being.

He said that the matter was decided during a meeting between his ministry and the Finance Ministry.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2023/06/918649/kedah-consumers-group-lauds-move-maintain-chicken-and-egg-subsidies