Cooperatives can help address problems of rising prices of goods - PM

He said one of the ways would be through the setting up of a wholesale cooperative to supply goods in bulk at cheap prices to all cooperatives and this would enable the people to get goods at cheaper prices.

"Cooperatives can play a role in helping to reduce pressure on the people. There are many cooperatives, but most of them buy goods from wholesale shops in small quantities, such as rice or sugar at round 100 to 200 packets a month.

"If a special wholesale cooperative, they (cooperatives) can buy in bulk, which will be cheaper. If the price is cheaper, more people will buy at cooperatives," he said when opening the annual general meeting of the Bera District Smallholders Cooperative in Kampung Batu Papan here today.

He said the proposed setting up of a wholesale cooperative would be discussed in more detail with the relevant quarters, including Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Minister Tan Sri Noh Omar and the Malaysian Cooperative Commission (SKM).

There are about 1,500 cooperatives nationwide where the public can get basic necessities at cheap prices, he said, adding that the government would continue to implement various programmes, including the twice-monthly Malaysian Family Sale in all the 222 parliamentary constituencies nationwide to help ease the financial burden of the people.

He said the government would also provide subsidy to farmers and breeders to help cushion the increase in the price of fertiliser and pesticides.

On the skyrocketing price of chicken, Ismail Sabri said the government had taken steps address the problem by importing the supply from China and Thailand.

Unfortunately, there are some quarters making false claims on the halal status of the imported chicken, he added.

The prime minister said the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) has strict standard operating procedures (SOP) in granting the halal status for imported chicken and should not be doubted.

"Before the halal approval is given, Jakim will go to the place to make an inspection first. After it is confirmed that it is halal, then the halal stamp (logo) is issued...this halal status is not onlyin terms of the slaughtering process, but many other aspects, including cleanliness.

"For the halal process, it also involves the aspect of transportation, where the goods cannot be mixed with non-halal goods," he added.

Sharing his experience, Ismail Sabri, when he was Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister, he had proposed to the government to import meat from one Islamic country, but the plan was scrapped after Jakim found it did not meet the aspect on cleanliness, although though the slaughter process was halal.

As such, the prime minister called on the public not to worry about the halal status of the imported chicken.