The ministry's parliamentary secretary Hoo Seong Chang said the association should not be threatening the government that it would raise prices as chicken was a controlled item and no party could raise prices at will.

"The ministry will definitely act against those who flout the regulations. So, I'm asking poultry dealers to discuss the issue with the ministry and we will try to help them," he said.

Hoo was replying to a question from Datuk Hashim Jahaya (BN-Kuala Kedah) in the Dewan Rakyat here, on what action would be taken against the association as its move could be followed by others and spread to the whole country.

Yesterday, the association announced that it would raise the price of chickens from RM6 per kg to RM6.50 from this Thursday as it felt the ceiling price fixed by the ministry could not offset the rising costs.

Hoo said the ceiling price for standard chicken was fixed at RM5.60 per kg and the super chicken variety at RM6.25 following discussions involving the ministry's officials and breeders.