KULAI: Reports of low supply of chicken have only come from rural areas in Johor, says state Investment, Trade and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Lee Ting Han.

       He said that the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry had been conducting daily checks to ensure the supply of chicken in Johor remains sufficient.

       He said the low supply experienced in rural areas was probably due to the high demand for the festive season.

       "Other than that, the market supply is still sufficient and we have yet to receive any complaints of significant shortage in poultry supply.

       He said the ministry had about 200 personnel monitoring and conducting daily checks at various locations throughout the state to ensure the supply and price of essential items such as chicken and flour are sufficient and compliant with the government guidelines," he told the media at a hotel in Senai here on Monday (May 23).

       Lee added that he would wait for further instructions from the Federal Government after the special Cabinet meeting on Monday over this issue.

       It was reported that there could be a shortage of chicken in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Kedah and Perlis following the closure of a livestock farm over the weekend.

       The poultry producer said it had to stop supplying chicken due to their livestock's inability to reach a marketable weight.

       Investigations carried out by the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry and the Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry found that the poultry farms were suffering due to a lack of food supply as well as problems with disease.