KUALA LUMPUR: Restaurants are unlikely to face a supply shortage of chicken as long as the export ban on regular broiler chickens stays.
Malaysian Muslim Restaurant Owners Association (Presma) president Datuk Jawahar Ali Taib Khan said this was because most restaurants use broiler chickens for their dishes.
"So, the government's decision to resume exports of coloured will not affect our members," he said.
"The export ban should be lifted only after the prices of chicken have stabilised.
"The government should also continue to find other alternatives to ensure a stable supply for local consumption. One way is to step up imports of chicken and allow those who are capable of providing cheaper chicken prices to do so.
"This will definitely benefit consumers in the long run."
On June 1, the government instated a ban on chicken exports to ensure that chicken supply for domestic consumption remained stable.
However, the Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry, on June 15, gave special export permission for three chicken commodities, which are coloured broilers, including free-range and black chickens, chicken-based products and day-old-chicks parent stocks.
The export ban on regular broilers, nevertheless, is still in effect.
Previously, the government had set the maximum retail price of standard chicken at RM8.90 per kg and super chicken (slaughtered and cleaned without the legs, head, liver and gizzard) at RM9.90 per kg.
However, chicken prices are set to soar again once the floating price system replaces the maximum retail price scheme, which would end on June 30.
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi, on Thursday, said the Finance Ministry had plans to roll out financial aid for those who needed to cope with the possible price hikes.