JERANTUT: Supermarkets and sundry shops here have ran out of eggs, a problem that has prolonged for a few weeks, causing distress among business owners, especially those making pastries, cakes and cookies.
Mohd Nor Mahmud, 43, who runs a sundry shop at the Jerantut market said his egg supply comes from a supplier in town and in Mentakab, both sent three times weekly.
"I used to get 300 trays of Grade A and B eggs each week, but now I receive only 40 to 60 trays, with stocks coming in only once or twice. Half of the supply of eggs received has to be kept aside for my customers who make cakes and cookies," he said.
Mohd Nor said that the given the dwindling supply, it is no surprise that whatever was left will be sold in under 30 minutes.
He said that suppliers told him that the egg shortage is caused by an increase in price for chicken feed. The prices of supplements for chickens have also gone up and unpredictable, and sometimes extreme weather has led to the livestock being prone to sickness and diseases.
Mohd Nor pointed out that sellers cannot raise or increase the price of chicken eggs because it is a controlled item.
Checks found that eggs sold at supermarkets were those with Omega, which are more expensive than normal eggs.
Local resident Abdul Manaf Mat, 59, said that he had breakfast of nasi lemak without egg at a roadside stall because the stall owner could not get eggs. He did not want to use Omega eggs as he did not want to have to raise the price of nasi lemak.
Baker Farah Adila Jaafar, 33, said that the shortage of eggs has led to her having to reduce orders, even when this dents her income.
"I don't have a choice. If there are no eggs then how am I supposed to bake cakes? It's one of the main ingredients," she said.
Farah Adila said to ensure there is enough eggs to bake, she would ask family members on which supermarket or sundry shop have eggs. "Once I know, then I will rush over to buy the eggs that I need," she said.