Deputy domestic trade and consumer affairs minister Rosol Wahid said this was in light of reports of chicken dumping in the market and calls by poultry farmers to allow the resumption of chicken exports to Singapore.
“This will be discussed at the Cabinet today,” he said.
Exports of whole chicken have been banned since June 1 to stem the chicken shortage, but confusion arose when later that month, Putrajaya eased the ban, allowing poultry importers abroad to resume getting live premium chicken from Malaysia.
Rosol acknowledged that despite the price of poultry being stabilised, the cost of food remained high, and there were plans to address this.
“We are dealing with the matter and will act according to the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011,” he said, adding that businesses had told him that food prices had not gone down because raw materials were still expensive.
Earlier today, the owner of a poultry supply company told FMT he feared more problems would arise when the export ban was lifted due to the lack of information and slow decision-making by the government.
Rosol also commented on allegations surrounding a Muslim business taking supplies of chicken and duck rice from a non-Muslim restaurant.
He said the ministry would look into the matter to identify if any other offences were committed.
“The only offence they have committed so far is failing to have a halal certificate, which is under the Islamic development department’s (Jakim) purview, not ours,” he said.
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