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PETALING JAYA: The government will be banning the exports of whole chickens from June 1 in a bid to address the shortage here in Malaysia.

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said this will be in effect until the prices and production of chicken stabilise. Malaysia exports around 3.6 million whole chickens a month.

In a statement, Ismail also said the Malaysia Competition Commission’s (MyCC) probe into claims that cartels were controlling the prices and production of chicken will be completed next month.

He assured that the government will take legal action against the culprits if these allegations were true.

Ismail also said the Cabinet today agreed for the creation of a buffer stock for chickens and to optimise existing cold storage facilities belonging to the agriculture and food industries ministry and its agencies.

Besides that, approved permits for whole chickens and chicken parts, as well as wheat will be abolished.

To increase the chicken supply within the country, the Cabinet agreed to simplify the evaluation process for subsidy applications and to recognise more slaughterhouses abroad.

Ismail said the government will also reduce the involvement of middlemen, and this initiative will be spearheaded by the National Farmers’ Organisation.

The Cabinet also agreed to a request for the cooperation of state governments, agencies, and government-linked companies in providing long-term temporary occupational licenses (TOL) for the planting of alternative chicken feed like corn.

The Cabinet has been advised by the attorney-general to utilise provisions under the Control of Supplies Act 1961 for activities intended to disrupt the supply of chickens.

Yesterday, the agriculture and food industries ministry said that checks by the veterinary department found most poultry farms are ready to provide a sufficient supply of chicken to the market.

However, some farms had a problem with underweight chicken, which had affected supplies in some areas, it said.

The ministry said the inspections were carried out following a report that a group of chicken cartels had taken action to stop farm operations, thus causing a shortage of chicken supply in the market, Bernama reported.