BERA: The Prime Minister has urged cooperatives to play their role to help stem the rising prices of goods and reduce the people’s financial burden.

       Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said one way would be setting up a wholesale cooperative to supply goods in bulk at lower prices to all cooperatives.

       “Cooperatives can play a role to help reduce the financial pressure faced by the people. There are many cooperatives, but most of them buy goods from wholesale shops such as rice or sugar at around 100 to 200 packets a month.

       “If there is a special wholesale cooperative, they (cooperatives) can buy in bulk, which will be cheaper. If the price is cheaper, more people will buy at cooperatives,” he said when opening the annual general meeting of the Bera District Smallholders Cooperative in Kampung Batu Papan here yesterday.

       Ismail Sabri said the proposed setting up of a wholesale cooperative would be discussed in more detail with the relevant quarters, including Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Minister Tan Sri Noh Omar and the Malaysian Cooperative Commission (SKM).

       There were about 1,500 cooperatives nationwide for the public to get basic necessities at cheaper prices, he said, adding that the government would continue to implement various programmes such as the twice-monthly Malaysian Family Sale in all 222 parliamentary constituencies to help ease the financial burden of the people.

       He said the government would also provide subsidy to farmers and breeders to help cushion the increase in fertiliser and pesticide prices.

       On the drastic increase in the price of chicken, Ismail Sabri said the government had taken steps to address the problem by importing supply from China and Thailand.

       Unfortunately, he said, there were some quarters making false claims on the halal status of the imported chicken.

       The Prime Minister said the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) had followed the SOP in granting the halal status for imported chicken and should not be doubted.

       “Before halal approval is given, Jakim will go to the place to make an inspection first. After it is confirmed that it is halal, then the halal stamp (logo) is issued... this halal status is not only for the slaughtering process but many other aspects, including cleanliness.

       “For the halal process, it also involves the aspect of transportation, where goods cannot be mixed with non-halal goods,” he added.

       Sharing his experience, Ismail Sabri said when he was Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister, he had proposed to the government to import meat from an Islamic country but the plan was scrapped after Jakim found it did not meet the aspect on cleanliness, although the slaughter process was halal.

       As such, he called on the people not to worry about the halal status of the imported chicken. — Bernama