June 26, 2024

 

Enough eggs in Malaysia, according to deputy minister

 

The supply of eggs in Malaysia is adequate amid a three sen drop in prices, the country's Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Deputy Minister Fuziah Salleh assured.

 

"We engaged industry players even before the prime minister's announcement (on the reduction of egg prices)," she told the New Straits Times (NST). "We received assurances of sufficient egg production nationwide."

 

Ayer Itam, a member of parliament, has voiced concern that the three sen reduction in egg prices could lead to a shortage of eggs in the market.

 

Checks by NST in various retail outlets around the Klang Valley found some stores ran out of Grade A, B or C eggs. Fuziah said the ministry will investigate shortages and whether they were linked to the long weekend following Hari Raya Aidiladha celebrations.

 

A spokesman of one local hypermarket chain said they ran out of eggs on June 18 but would receive a shipment the following day.

 

"Usually we won't receive eggs on public holidays because our suppliers are also off," said the spokesman, adding Grade A eggs were more difficult to procure.

 

Meanwhile, Federation of Livestock Farmers Association Malaysia advisor Datuk Jeffrey Ng said egg shortages in the market after a public holiday were expected as "most wholesalers stopped picking up eggs from farms or delivering to retailers".

 

"Most farmers have accumulated eggs to distribute after two days without pickups due to the public holiday," Ng added.

 

On June 17, Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced the three sen price reduction in eggs. A subsidy of 10 sen per egg is expected to cost the Malaysian government RM100 million (US$21.2 million).

 

Last year, the government spent nearly RM1 billion on egg subsidies.

 

With the latest price revision Grade A, B and C eggs are priced at 42 sen, 40 sen, and 38 sen respectively.
 

- News Straits Times