Govt to study fixing price of mackerel

The government is holding discussions to study the possibility of fixing the price of mackerel (ikan kembong) in the country's retail market.

Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin said the matter was still at discussion stage as it needed to take into consideration various factors including ensuring adequate supply of the fish throughout the year.

"We at the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry (KPDNKK) are discussing with the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry (MOA) to study the matter from various angles," he told reporters.

Currently mackerel is the bench mark to other fish in the market, he added.

Hamzah said in the discussion with MOA, he wanted to ensure the supply of mackerel was sufficient throughout the year and not only during certain time before the fish was announced as a controlled item.

The minister was attending the opening ceremony of Melaka level National Cooperatives Day at Melaka International Trade Centre (MITC) in Ayer Keroh today by Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron.

-- BERNAMA