SEREMBAN - The uncertain prices for chicken meat not only burdens consumers but also food traders.
Traders in this district claimed that within a week, there would be at least four times where the prices of chicken would change and the situation is making it difficult for them to calculate the cost.
In fact, some traders have resorted to buying chickens in the supermarket to save costs as it is cheaper than the ones sold in the daily market.
Nasi lemak seller Azniza Aziz, 31, said that she can still buy chickens at the price of RM9.20 to RM9.50 per kilogram at the supermarket compared to the daily market where it is priced at RM11 per kilogram.
"I buy the chickens not only for our business, but to also eat at home so I would buy it there since it's cheaper.
"Now we really have to save money. As traders, of course we want to make profit but not to the point it will burden our customers," she said.
Azniza added the community is looking forward to the government's solution for chicken prices issue as it seems to be ongoing for too long.
"It's impossible to buy a kilogram of chicken at the price of less than RM8 like before, but at least it should be priced at an amount that does not burden the public," she said.
Zainudin Misran, 46, said that price of the meal and size of chicken he sells remains the same despite the uncertainty of the prices of chicken in the market.
However, he admitted that the situation made it difficult for traders to estimate the cost of raw materials.
"We used to buy a kilogram of chicken at RM8 but we can't get that price now and as far as I know the cheapest price is at RM9.
"Since the price is uncertain, it's hard to calculate the profit and loss. Am i supposed to change the price of my chicken rice and kebab every day as the price flunctuates?," he questioned
In the end, Zainuddin said he had to bear the additional cost in hope that the price of chicken would drop again the next day.
Nasi Kandar trader Syahril Huda Shamsudin, 44, said the price of chicken which sometimes reaches RM11 is very burdensome, especially for traders whose main product is chicken-based food.
"Sometimes I worry about putting up the price because people will say it's too expensive.
"In reality, we actually have to bear the high cost of raw materials where the prices are uncertain in the market," he said.
Meanwhile, Anisa Non, 49, said that the fluctuating chicken prices in the market is the main challenge food traders are facing today.
Anisa said she really hopes the government can solve the chicken price issues comprehensively and not only in certain seasons.
"Usually when people are upset about the hike of chicken prices, the price will drop for a while. Similarly during the festive season where there is a price control scheme. But the price will go back to its original amount after that.
"As far as I remember, the price of chicken did increase before but not as extreme as right now where it is sold at RM11 at the daily market," she said.
Anisa said she misses the price of chicken in the past in which she believesis quite impossible to implement now but she still hopes the price can be reduced to RM8 per kilogram.