PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the price of essential goods has been increased by the supply chain, not by traders.
“It is true that daily essentials are more expensive now. Traders are not responsible for this price increase. I see it as resulting from the supply chain.
“Take chicken as an example. Breeders, factories and wholesalers all have their own costs. The price is already high by the time the goods reach the traders,” he told reporters at an event yesterday.
Ismail Sabri added, the government would import frozen chicken to enable the people to obtain chicken at a lower price.
“The increase in chicken price to RM9.80 per kg is unusual although prices had exceeded RM10 per kg before. But this seldom happened because chicken prices normally ranged between RM7 and RM8 per kg,” he said.
Ismail Sabri also mentioned that the government would temporarily stop fish exports to ensure fish is sold at reasonable prices in the local market.
“If possible we will temporarily stop fish exports because it is important to meet the needs of our people. We do not want them to be burdened with price hikes, especially for wet goods,” he added.
