PETALING JAYA: Effective tomorrow, chicken will cost RM9.40 a kg, up by 50sen, based on the new ceiling price set by the Cabinet following its weekly meeting yesterday.
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The Cabinet decided not to float the price of chicken and set the new ceiling price for standard chicken, said Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee.
Kiandee also said the Cabinet decided to set the ceiling price of chicken eggs at 45sen per egg for Grade A, 43sen for Grade B and 31sen for Grade C, all up by 2sen each, in Peninsular Malaysia.
“The ceiling price for standard chicken and eggs will be enforced beginning July 1,” said Kiandee in a statement yesterday.
The new price is until Aug 31.
The ceiling price for standard chicken was previously set at RM8.90 per kg in the peninsula, and was slated to be removed on July 1.
Kiandee said the decision was taken after taking into account the Bantuan Keluarga Malaysia (BKM) announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, where a cash aid up to RM500 will be given to eligible B40 and M40 groups.
According to Kiandee, 8.6 million BKM recipients have been approved so far and they are slated to receive up to RM2,600 in aid this year alone.
“This is the biggest aid given by any government,” he added.
Kiandee also said Putrajaya allocated RM369.5mil for this cash aid, amounting its total subsidies to RM1.1bil since Feb 5 this year.
“The increase in prices for essential items is an issue that is taking place in Malaysia, but it is a global phenomenon due to the supply chain disruption triggered by geopolitical conflict and climate change.
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“Nevertheless, the government is trying its best to set a price control mechanism to ensure Keluarga Malaysia isn’t burdened by the challenges of the cost of living,” added Kiandee.
Last Friday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that the current water and electricity tariff rates for domestic users in Peninsular Malaysia will be maintained and subsidies worth RM5.8bil will be borne by the government.
Ismail Sabri said this means a rebate of 2sen/kWh is maintained for all domestic consumers with no surcharge.
The imposition of a surcharge of 3.7sen/kWh is maintained on commercial and industrial consumers.
Meanwhile, in a separate statement yesterday, Ismail Sabri announced the formation of a special team dubbed as “Jihad Tangani Inflasi” (Battle against inflation).
The special team will collect information from ministries, agencies and the public, to draft a strategy and coordinate efforts in addressing issues concerning inflation. The Prime Minister also said the special team, led by Communications and Multimedia Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa, will coordinate efforts to control the rise in prices more efficiently and effectively.
The special team will meet twice a week – on Monday and Thursday – with a press conference held after every meeting.
The Jihad Tangani Inflasi special team will include Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, Kiandee, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali.
Ismail Sabri also said officers from each ministry would be appointed to respond instantly to the Special Team.
“The government is always working towards ensuring Keluarga Malaysia isn’t seriously affected by rising inflation across the world,” he said.-The Star