PETALING JAYA: The government is stockpiling massive amounts of poultry, eggs, and santan ahead of Hari Raya Aidilfitri to prevent price surges during the festive season.
Agriculture and food security minister Mohamad Sabu said the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) had started buying 188.89 metric tonnes of chicken and nearly 2.5 million eggs this month to meet the expected surge in demand.
He said Fama Corporation Sdn Bhd would buy 640 metric tonnes of local mature coconuts, with an additional 576 metric tonnes to be imported from Indonesia.
“We are also helping farmers sell their products directly to customers, including vegetables, fruits, and livestock.
“Fama is planning a pre-Syawal sale at farmers’ markets and Jualan Agro Madani outlets nationwide,” he said in a written parliamentary reply.
To curb price hikes for high-demand imports such as chillies, tomatoes, and ginger, these items will also be available through Fama’s retail shops at controlled prices, he said.
Mohamad was responding to Jalaluddin Alias (BN-Jelebu), who asked what the government was doing to ensure that enough food is available for Hari Raya Aidilfitri and to prevent price spikes for key food items.
He said the government was allowing imports of live cattle and frozen beef and chicken from countries like Australia, Brazil, and Thailand to meet local demand.
He said a temporary export ban on selected fish species would also be in place before and after Hari Raya Aidilfitri, to ensure that locals have access to their favourite festive dishes.
Mohamad said frozen fish stocks had been set aside for extra supply across different regions.
The domestic trade and cost of living ministry has reportedly opened three investigation papers and issued 47 notices to coconut and santan traders over price hikes and profiteering.
Last month, a major coconut supplier in Penang warned that climate change had reduced the supply of mature coconuts at groves in lower Perak and Selangor.
