Malaysian pork traders ask for more

 

 

Pork sellers in Malaysia want the government to control the ex-farm price as well after having made the meat a controlled item for the coming Chinese New Year festival.

 

MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said the retailers felt that it would be better if the government could control the price of the item not just at the retail stage but also ex-farm as had been done for chicken.

 

Chua said the MCA would arrange a meeting between the retailers and pig farmers next week because the two sides have not met for three years, making it difficult to negotiate the price.

 

Last Saturday, Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that pork would be a controlled item from February 10-21 for the Chinese New Year period.

 

Earlier, pork sellers urged the Veterinary Department to allow the import of chilled pork for all the three major Chinese festivals, as demand is expected to rise by up to 50%.