CAP urges immediate solution for lack of chicken eggs issue

GEORGETOWN - Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) urges the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry (KPDNHEP) to solve the issue of the lack of chicken eggs issue.

Its President Mohideen Abdul Kader said CAP survey showed the supply of chicken eggs could still be found in public markets and convenience stores around Gelugor, Bayan Baru, Jelutong and Batu Lanchang.

However, he said the convenience store vendors claimed it was difficult for them to get steady supply because the quantity obtained from wholesalers was much lower compared to vendors in the market.

"Most vendors in convenience stores and the public markets claim it was difficult to obtain supplies of eggs in the past two weeks.

“The situation is worrying because eggs represented the cheapest form of protein in the market.

"According to news reports, egg producers chose to butcher their chicken before it reaches maturity and it was a factor in the lack of eggs in the market," he said in a statement on Tuesday.

He said the Special Task Force on Jihad Against Inflation recently identified the high cost of chicken feed as one of the factors for the lack of eggs supplied.

"The question is why won't they negotiate with the chicken breeders earlier and take action to overcome it?

"When a chicken breeder gives feedback shouldn't this task force discuss with the local feed manufacturer to produce cheaper feed using the palm kernel waste since the cost of the feed being the main issue in contention?" he questioned.

He said research relating to the usage of palm kernel waste as a feed for animals since 1980.

"Selangor announced it would adopt the method of providing alternative animal feed production based on research by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia two years ago.

"The method was implemented in Kedah and was found to reduce the cost of animal feed significantly," he said.