Chicken prices capped at RM9.40 per kg in peninsula

The government today announced that the ceiling price for standard chicken will be set at RM9.40 per kg in the peninsula from July 1 onwards while the price of chicken eggs will be capped at 45 sen each for Grade A, 43 sen for Grade B and 41 sen for Grade C.

Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Ronald Kiandee said the decision took into account the prime minister’s recent announcement of additional cash aid under the Bantuan Keluarga Malaysia (BKM) initiative.

“A total of 8.6 million BKM recipients have been approved, with households to receive up to RM2,600 this year,” he said in a statement.

“This is the most assistance ever given by any government. With the implementation of this subsidy, the government will have allocated RM369.5 million, bringing the total amount of subsidies since Feb 5 to RM1.1 billion.”

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi said on June 21 that the price ceiling control for chicken and chicken eggs would be discontinued from July onwards, with prices to depend on depend on market forces.

However, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said several days later that the price of chicken would not be floated, and that a new ceiling price would be set instead.

The retail price of standard chicken was previously capped at RM8.90 per kg.

The maximum retail price of so-called super whole chicken, or chickens that are cleaned and sold without the head, feet and organs, was RM9.90 per kg.