KOTA KINABALU: Poultry traders have agreed to reduce their profit margins as part of efforts to check an increase in chicken and egg prices in Sabah, says state Community Development and People's Well-Being Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya.

       He said his ministry was working with the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry to get retailers' commitment to reduce profit margins amid the growing cost of poultry products.

       "Poultry and egg traders at wholesale and retail levels have agreed to reduce profit margins since Sept 11 last year, and a total of 82 premises have committed to reduce profit margins.

       "This has helped consumers get reasonable retail prices," he said at the state assembly sitting here Wednesday (March 23).

       He said the measure was among several taken by the government to keep the prices of poultry products reasonable.

       The Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 was also used as part of the “soft approach” to keep the situation in check, he said in response to a question by Justin Wong (IND-Sri Tanjong).

       He explained that chicken and egg prices had gone up in Sabah due to increasing cost of production resulting from rising feed costs, among other things.

       He added that the Federal Government had on Feb 9 agreed to provide poultry farmers subsidies of 60 sen per kilogramme of chicken and five sen per kg for all grades of eggs.

       The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry would also cap the prices of chicken and chicken eggs under the Keluarga Malaysia Maximum Price Control Scheme that has been extended till June 5.

       He said the federal ministry would continue to engage with traders to comply with the laws in place and also work with relevant government agencies, including the state Agriculture and Fisheries Ministry, to ensure reasonable prices and adequate supply.

       Shahelmey also said there was a slight shortage of eggs in the market and steps were being taken to ensure adequate supply during the festive season.