KUALA LUMPUR – Chicken supply seemed to be an unending issue to the extent some poultry dealers have lost their income due to the supply shortage.
Based on an observation by MalaysiaGazette at the Dato Keramat Market, several chicken stalls were empty as some of the chicken farms are still closed due to the Chinese New Year celebration, besides the supply shortage issue.
Some stalls were selling very limited supply as those were what they could get from their suppliers.
PIX: HAZROL ZAINAL / MalaysiaGazette / 07 FEBRUARY 2022.
Peniaga menunjukkan harga ayam yang ditetapkan kerajaan mengikut harga syiling ketika tinjauan lensa Malaysia Gazette di Pasar Dato Keramat, Kuala Lumpur. Foto HAZROL ZAINAL, 07 FEBRUARI 2022.
Meanwhile, all poultry dealers were seen to be observing the RM8.90 ceiling price set by the government since last Saturday.
Poultry dealer, Sazali Roslan, 54 said that this was the first time he had to face serious supply shortage issue since he started operating his business in 1986.
According to Sazali, he regretted the current situation as it has hampered him from seeking an income.
“Yesterday, the suppliers told us that the chicken farms were closed. Many farms were closed, so, they could not get the supply. They (supplier) didn’t say that there were no chickens, but they said that many farms were closed.
“I don’t know where other poultrymen got their supplies. I came today and saw that other poulterers also did not have their supplies until they had to buy from their friends.
“They bought with retail price, not the wholesale price to fulfil their existing client’s request. If they fail to send it to their customers, maybe they will not buy from us anymore,” he told MalaysiaGazette today.
When asked about the other excuses given by the suppliers, Sazali said that they only briefly talked about supply shortage.
Elaborating further, Sazali said that the chicken supply issue was getting more serious recently after he couldn’t get his supply as ordered.
“I ordered 150 chickens last Saturday but the supplier only sent me 70, and on Sunday, I made the same order but I only received 30. I didn’t receive any chicken today,” said the poultryman who originated from Kelantan.
Sazali added, the suppliers would usually inform the poultry dealers in advance if they could not send their supplies as ordered.
“Usually, by 3.00 pm (every day), the suppliers will inform us. They will inform us in advance if there is no stock,” he said.
Meanwhile, another poultry dealer, Harun Mat, 48, said that the chicken supply shortage issue had forced him to source for more suppliers to fulfil his customers’ needs.
PIX: HAZROL ZAINAL / MalaysiaGazette / 07 FEBRUARY 2022.
PIX:
Temubual bersama peniaga ayam, Harun Mat, 48 di Pasar Dato Keramat, Kuala Lumpur. Foto HAZROL ZAINAL, 07 FEBRUARI 2022.
According to Harun, usually, the poultry dealers would get their supplies from the same supplier. However, the situation has changed after the Movement Control Order (MCO) in 2020.
“Usually, getting from one supplier would be enough. Now, we need to find two to three other suppliers as they never send enough of supplies, as if they have a quota system.
“We used to order 300 to 400 chickens. Now, when I order 300, the suppliers send 150 or 70. Therefore, I need to find more than three suppliers,” he said.
According to Harun, almost all traders in that market suffer the similar situation of supply shortage to the extent that they cannot operate as usual.
He said, if the poultry dealers complain about the prices of chicken to the suppliers, some of them would give them an ultimatum of continuing to get the supply or to end it.
“There is a short of chicken supply now and if we complain about the price, the suppliers will ask if we want the chicken or complain about the price? Some of them refuse to reduce the prices, so, we need to follow suit,” said Harun.
Speaking further, Harun said that as a retailer, he truly felt the effect of supply shortage and the sudden increment of prices.
They hope that the government can give its guarantee on the amount of chicken supply.
“We, the retailers, truly feel it as the cost price of chicken is expensive. It is made worse when the government asks us to reduce the price suddenly when we don’t even have the supplies.
“The government guaranteed to reduce the price but they did not guarantee if there is supply. That is the problem that we are facing now.
“I heard recently that the government wants to import supplies from abroad but why is there supply shortage now? If it’s true that they import, the supplies can’t be still insufficient,” he said.
On 2 February, the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) fixed the retail ceiling price for standard chicken at RM8.90 per kilogramme in the Peninsular of Malaysia beginning last Saturday (5 Feb).
Its Minister, Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said that the price will begin after the expiry of Keluarga Malaysia Maximum Price Scheme (SHMKM) on 4 February.
According to him, the price will remain until 5 June for 121 days to guarantee the stability of chicken price and other relevant food items. -MalaysiaGazette
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