Malaysia's chickens down with disease?

Enforcement officers inspecting a chicken seller due to public outcry of the raising prices. - Photo Selangorkini

By ZAIDI ISHAM ISMAIL
editor@dagangnews.com

KUALA LUMPUR Nov 29 - Malaysia's chicken industry may be slightly affected by a disease which saw supply partially disrupted for the past two weeks.

Chicken suppliers and traders said chicken prices are up right now due to a squeeze in supply partly caused by the disease.

A Klang-based retailer who wants to be known as Zam said it is hard to get chicken meat for the past two to three weeks due to a suspected disease.

"That is why chicken prices have gone up steeply recently but the situation may improve in the coming weeks," Zam told DagangNews.com.

Chicken prices have gone up also due to a shortage of chicken feed mainly corn which is the essential item to make chicken feed.

Its prices have also gone up due to the reopening of the economy and the allowance of inter-state travel.

However, the nature of the chicken disease is not known. 

A check at the Shah Alam Section 6 market showed that chicken prices have gone up to RM10 a kg from RM7 before the borders were opened.

However, prices of other goods such as vegetables, bread and car parts have also gone up due to the rebounding economy brought about by the improving COVID-19 situation which saw demand spike up.

It is unclear why the poultry associations and the authorities are not announcing the situation to the public.

"But even if they are aware, they wouldn't want to publicise the matter for fear that it will cause panic or cause chicken prices to go up further," the trader told DagangNews.com.

He added the industry players are rectifying the situation as quick as they can as chicken supply is scarce while demand is high at the moment.

Broilers such as QL Resources, Lay Hong, LTK and Huat Lai Berhad have not made any announcement on the matter. - DagangNews.com