PASIR GUDANG - Some traders around the city are forced to sell chicken at a price of RM8.70 per kilogramme at the moment due to a hike in price from suppliers.
A grocery store operator in Kota Masai town, Rahmad Abdullah, 34, said that he had to sell the chickens at an increased price instead of at RM7.39 last week if he wanted gain a little profit.
"Traders in this town get supplies from different suppliers. I get supplies of chicken, fish and vegetables from different suppliers, so it's hard to get cheap prices.
"Its not because I don't to sell at the regulated prices, but because we depend on the suppliers.
In a single day, we need to get 30 to 50 chickens," he said.
Rahmad said usually, the chicken supply will run out even though the price varies according to the wholesale price given by the supplier.
Another trader who only wanted to be known as Shafie, 40, said that despite the uncertain price, customers still buy it because food is a necessity.
"So far, no customers have complained because chicken is always sought after by customers.
"Previously, there were traders in this town who sold chicken for up to RM9 per kilogramme last week because they got a high price from the supplier," he pointed.
For another grocery store owner, Abdul Kadir Mahmud, 50, said chicken prices are seeing an increase, as there is stiff competition in town due to supermarkets and mini markets selling the essentia food l at a lower price point.
"We don't even know what the price will be like next week. Let's hope it doesn't go up to the point where we have to sell at RM12 as happened before in some places, it's not only difficult for the traders, but also a pity for the customers," he said.
Sinar survey in Kuala Krai found that chicken prices in the state had increased since a few days before the Kelantan state polls
A chicken dealer in Kok Lanas, Danial Izani, 30, said that chicken price around Kota Bharu has now increased by around RM1.50 per kilogramme.
"The price had gone up four days prior to polling. I sold chicken at RM7.50 per kilogramme and now it is around RM8.80 per kilogramme," he said.
However, he said that the response to chickens was still encouraging and customers did not ask much about the price.
Danial noted that he was able to sell as many as 30 chickens in a day at retail.
According to a chicken supplier in Machang, Muhamad Hamizad Azmi, 24, the selling price is now at RM8.30 per kilogramme compared to three days ago which was at RM7.20 per kilogramme.
"Last two weeks, chicken prices was higher reaching up to RM9 per kilogramme," he said.
For Muhd Rohaizid Amirul Mohd Yuti, 23, who sells chicken at a market in Kampung Batu Balai, Kuala Krai, he had to sell for RM8.20 per kilogramme.
The trader who took supplies in Kota Bharu and Tanah Merah claimed that two days before voting, the price rose sharply.
"Previously, we sold chicken for RM6.50, but now it has gone up to RM8.20," he shared.
He said that he had to sell at the price because the chickens bought with the wholesaler were also more expensive than before.
Traders admitted that prices had been volatile for the past few months.
Meanwhile in Georgetown, the price of fresh chickens at the market has risen up an additional RM1.50 over the past week, costing between RM9.40 and RM10.90.
Chicken trader Mohd Hafizi Mat Saad, 42, said that the price had been uncertain for the past few months causing traders to face problems to set the selling price.
"Actually, the price of chicken has been going up and down for the past few months.
Earlier this month, it went down, but a few days before the election, the price went back up. However, we are not allowed to include that price in the ceiling price, but instead in the service charge price.
"The ceiling price set by the government is RM9.40 and it remains until today. This price must be displayed on the price tag, it cannot be changed until the government issues an order.
"However, if the price of chicken goes up, we will increase the price of the service charge. So far, the service charge is RM1.10, if it goes up, then this charge will also go up," he said on Monday.
Hafizi added that at the moment, the service charge will change according to the current price of fresh chicken.
"Last week, we sold for RM9.40 per kilogramme. There was no service charge because the price of chicken dropped, but two or three days before the election, it went back up as usual, so we had to sell at RM10.50.
"It's really high because in order for us get the supply, the capital is also high. Traders like us used to get RM8 to RM9 per kilogramme. That's why we can't lower the price because the capital is high," he explained.
He said that the increase in the price was allegedly due to a hike in the price of chicken food in the farm.
A chicken dealer at Bayan Baru public market, Muhammad Shaffi Yacob, 30, said that he had been informed that the price chicken of would increase in the near future.
"Right now, the average dealer sells at a price of RM10 and above. Now the price has gone up to RM10.50, so we sell for RM10.90.
"I found out that this price will go up again in a few days or weeks. The price will be included in the service charge. So the price will be higher than now which is RM10.90," he said.
Meanwhile Sinar survey's in Temerloh on Monday found that the retail price of clean chicken was sold at RM11 per kilogramme.
Some traders at the Mentakab Public Market said that the increase in price had started taking place in the past couple of days.
"It is true that the price went down before when there was more supply in the market. Now, the price has gone up again," said a trader.
Another trader who refused to be identified also claimed that he was getting a lot of small chickens that weighed below a kilogramme unlike previously.
A survey at a supermarket here also found that chicken is sold at RM9.40 per kilogramme and RM9.90 for clean cuts.
An employee admitted that the price increase happened over the past few weeks.
Meanwhile, for stall operator Nor Akmar Ahmad Bihauddin, 45, she said she had noticed the price increase since last week.
" Last week I could get a chicken for RM8.80, then RM9.80 and recently, RM10.50 per kilogramme.
"No reason was given regarding the increase in the price of chicken and as for small trader like me, I have to just accept it despite being bombarded by various increases in the cost of goods." she said