KUALA PILAH: The Negri Sembilan branch of the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry (KPDNHEP) has issued 24 notices to chicken producers, wholesalers and retailers following price hikes of the item in the market.

       Its director, Ain Arjuna Aziz Zaman, said the notices were issued through Ops Catut 8.0 after inspections found that the price of a standard dressed chicken spiked to its highest at RM10.50 per kg at the Seremban Market and Ampangan Market.

       “Price hikes were also recorded at hypermarkets and supermarkets. A supermarket in Bahau was selling the item at RM9.50 per kg.

       “The initial investigation found that the higher standard dressed chicken price was due to the increase in the cost of chicken feed at the producer and breeder levels,” she told reporters after monitoring the chicken prices here yesterday.

       The enforcement notices were issued under Section 21 of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011, between Sept 8 and 15, to obtain information on the selling price, cost and margins over a certain period last year and this year.

       Ain Arjuna said inspections found that standard-dressed chicken was sold at over RM9 per kg in the last week of August, with the highest price recorded at the Tampin Central Market and Johol public market, while seven other public markets sold the items between RM9 to RM9.20 per kg.

       To prevent price hikes, she said KPDNHEP will continue to conduct checks at every level in the poultry distribution chain until Sept 22.

       “Stern action will be taken against traders who increase the price of chickens at any level of distribution,” she stressed

       In the meantime, she suggested that consumers make full use of the “price catcher” application to check the prices of goods including outlets that offer “best price” alternatives.

       The public can also channel complaints on price hikes through the e-aduan.kpdnhep portal at https://eaduan.kpdnhep.gov.my or WhatsApp 019-279 4317. — Bernama