IPOH: Chicken stalls at the Bidor market were shut on Wednesday after thieves made off with 350 chickens which had been kept in cages there.

Perak Environment, Health and Human Resources Committee chairman A. Sivanesan said this was not the first such incident, as similar thefts occurred last year.

However, no arrests were made, he said.

"Several districts in Perak also reported that a total of 145 chickens disappeared from markets this year."

Sivanesan, who is also Sungkai state assemblyman, did not rule out the possibility that the thefts were committed by a syndicate to create an artificial shortage which would lead to an increase in the price of chicken.