Advice for Rafizi from minister who made chicken faux pas a decade ago

Nearly a decade ago, a minister came under fire for advising the people to avoid eating chicken in the event that it became too expensive.

Now, Hasan Malek has some advice for Rafizi Ramli, the economy minister in Anwar Ibrahim's Cabinet who courted controversy by making similar remarks last week. 

Speaking to MalaysiaNow, Hasan, who was the domestic trade and consumer affairs minister under Najib Razak, urged Rafizi not to take the criticism against him to heart. 

Instead, he said, the PKR deputy president should focus on his duties and resolve the difficulties faced by the people. 

"Back then, Rafizi was in the opposition and he did not know or appreciate the responsibilities of the minister in charge of consumer affairs," Hasan said. 

"So it doesn't matter. He knows now." 

Rafizi was among those who slammed Hasan, the former MP for Kuala Pilah, for saying in 2013 that the people should switch to other protein sources amid an increase in the price of chicken. 

His advice to "avoid eating chicken when the price goes up" is still quoted today to satirise ministers who issue statements or make decisions that appear against the interests of consumers. 

Rafizi sparked a similar reaction after saying at a press conference on Dec 23 that consumers appeared willing to pay the prices set by suppliers even though these continued to rise. 

"By right, when the price of chicken increases, people should avoid buying chicken," he said.

He later said on Twitter that he had been referring to "the need to address the supply and demand side so that a more elastic consumer demand becomes a force to reckon with in influencing the price of goods".

His statement also drew comparisons with that of Hasan, who nonetheless said that he held no grudges against those who had criticised him. 

"So Rafizi needs to accept the people's criticism as well," he added. 

"This is all part and parcel of being a minister. He needs to find solutions. Don't just talk, because anyone can talk and everyone can give their opinion, but reality is often a different matter."

The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) meanwhile said that Rafizi should not merely comment on the cause of the increase in chicken price. 

Fomca CEO Saravanan Thambirajah said the minister should instead focus on finding solutions as this was what the people wanted. 

He praised Rafizi for trying to explain the increase in chicken price from a supply and demand perspective but said the priority should be to ensure enough of the former. 

"This is why we elected 222 MPs to help resolve the problems that we face," he said. 

"If there is no chicken in Malaysia, we the people cannot import chicken from other countries. Only the government can make that decision."