KAJANG: The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry will continue 'Op Samar' by deploying plainclothes officers on the ground to prevent irresponsible poultry sellers from taking advantage of the chicken subsidy removal.
Its deputy minister Fuziah Salleh said the enforcement team from the ministry through the operation would conduct spot checks to wet markets and other premises to monitor the prices of chicken.
"I have received feedback that when our officers are present, some sellers change their prices (of the chicken).
"Engaging in such practice is inappropriate, and there should not be two separate price points.
"Consumers deserve the lower price in such a situation. We remind sellers not to take advantage and always abide by the rules and regulations," she told reporters after her inspections on chicken prices at the Pasar Awam Kajang here today.
The New Straits Times on Nov 1 reported that chicken prices went from RM10 to RM9 in a split second as soon as officers from the ministry inspected the Chow Kit wet market.
The ministry, said Fuziah, is committed to monitoring the prices of goods through a daily deployment of over 900 officers covering nearly 1,500 premises, including wet markets, hypermarkets, supermarkets, mini markets and retail nationwide.
She also reminded sellers to always provide clear labelling of the prices of the chicken.
"In the situation where we are floating chicken prices, the ministry wants to ensure that no traders take advantage through imposing "hidden costs" such as cutting fees.
"We will not hesitate to take action against sellers found raising the prices of chicken indiscriminately."
Since the removal of subsidy, Fuziah said the prices of chicken have remained steady. She nevertheless stressed that the ministry would also closely monitor the chicken prices from the suppliers' side.
The floating price mechanism for chicken, with the removal of subsidies and ceiling price, came into effect on Nov 1, as announced by Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu on Monday.
He said the termination of chicken subsidies has considered the current supply and price trends, and the cost of chicken production has begun to stabilise, contributing to the current market prices being below the ceiling price.