January 21, 2004

No Change In Malaysia Egg Price Ceiling

The ceiling price for eggs in Malaysia will remain unchanged, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Dr Jamaludin Jarjis said on Tuesday.

However, he said the Government would meet the Federation of Livestock Farmers Association of Malaysia after the Chinese New Year to hear their requests for an increase in the ceiling price.

"At present, there is no shortage of eggs.

"So, why should there be an increase in the prices? "Whatever we decide, we must be fair to both the consumers and poultry farmers," he told reporters after visiting Teik Seng Poultry Farm Sdn Bhd in Balik Pulau here, the biggest poultry farm on the island.

Present were the ministry's parliamentary secretary Wong Kam Hoong and farm operator Beh Soon Ni.

Jamaludin was asked to comment on the request by the federation for an increase in the ceiling price of eggs by a few sen.

On Jan 10, the federation urged the government to set a more reasonable ceiling price for eggs, since it claimed current levels were lower than the market price.

At present, the controlled price of chicken eggs for the festive season ranged between 21 sen and 23 sen each, depending on its grade.

Jamaludin said he would also discuss with the Agriculture Ministry on ways to reduce Malaysia's import of maize and soy beans, used as chicken feed. For example, Beh's farm produced 250,000 eggs a day and had to import 1,000 tons of the grains each month.

Earlier, during a visit to the Bayan Baru wet market, Jamaludin said the ministry had booked 40 traders nationwide for failing to use special price tags during the recent festive season price control scheme between Jan 19 and Jan 25 and for failing to display the price tags on other goods.

He said besides seizing the goods, worth RM3,406, the errant traders also paid fines totalling RM4,200.