Drop in chicken demand after price hike, say traders 

KOTA BHARU - An irony. Just about two months ago traders could not keep up with the demand for chicken due to a shortage of supplies. Now as the supply is recovering, there are no customers.

The reason: people are turning away after the increase of chicken to RM9.40 per kg since July 1.

Trader Munsyi Mohamad Nuri, 33 said his sales are on the decline.

"Right now, I can only sell about 30 chickens during weekends as compared to about 100 chickens previously.

"Customers are being frugal due to rising prices of goods,” he said when met at Pasar Tok Guru, Pengkalan Chepa is here.

Munsyi said the decline in daily sales revenue has forced him to find other alternatives.

"I am trying to sell the chickens to shop owners” he said.

Another trader Mohamad Safuan Mohamad Zain, 34 said the number of customers had decreased even though the chicken supply recovered about three weeks ago.

"My chicken supply is from Perak. The size of chickens is bigger than before but where are the customers,”he said.

Last Wednesday the government reversed its earlier announcement to float chicken prices. They had said a ceiling retail price of chicken at RM9.40 per kilogram will be set for Peninsular Malaysia on July 1.