Hike in price of chicken, beef not because of supply shortage - Shabery

Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said the hike in the price of chicken and beef is not caused by supply shortage but due to greedy traders who take advantage of the buyers.

"The trend among consumers during festive season is to buy more than the usual quantity and this prompted unscrupulous traders to hike the price of raw materials such as chicken and beef.

"We have to bear in mind that prices do not rise because of less supply but prices rise because traders take advantage of the consumers excitement to buy more than the usual quantity during Ramadan," he said after launching a Cleanliness and Food Safety campaign of Kemaman district, here yesterday.

Also present were Terengganu Health director Dr Mohammad Omar.

Shabery said the ministry guaranteed that the supply of chicken for Aidilfitri was sufficient based on the preparation and monitoring done by the Veterinary Services Department.

"Insya Allah, the chicken supply is sufficient because the chicken were reared 45 days ago and also based on the number of hatchlings.

"As for the traders who raised the price of goods, I believe the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism (KPDNKK) will constantly monitor these things, especially if there are traders who raise prices over the ceiling price set."