Chicken consumption in Kedah has increased substantially over the past week due to the influenza A (H1N1) scare.
Concerned that demand would exceed supply soon, Consumer Association of Kedah is asking the government to consider allowing the import of chicken from Thailand or Indonesia.
Association president Datuk Yusoff Ismail said the government should seriously consider the matter since many non-Muslims, especially pork eaters, have turned to chicken as an alternative meat for their diet.
“At present, we can still meet the demand for chicken in Kedah, but our checks show demand would soon surpass supply and we should consider several options to overcome this,” he said when asked on local broiler chicken traders’ concern that demand for chicken would exceed supply soon.
He said the current retail price of live chicken of between RM5.40 per kg and RM5.90 per kg, depending on size, was stable.
“However, many chicken traders at the wet markets in major towns in the state are concerned that they would not be able to cope with the steady increase in demand for chicken.
“Should the demand exceeds supply, then the government would have to seriously consider other options including allowing the import of chicken from Thailand and Indonesia,” he said.
Yusoff said most chicken consumed in Kedah were sourced from farms in Penang since there was only one major farm in Bukit Pinang near here.
“We understand that even the farms in Penang are expecting a sharp rise in the demand for chicken because of the influenza scare,” he said.
At present, Malaysia does not allow the import of chicken from its neighbours.
