According to Bernama.com, wholesaler Rosli Bidi, claimed that the 15-day Price Control scheme, which was launched yesterday (26 January), would cause them to suffer losses as they had to buy chicken at a higher price and sell them at a cheaper price to retailers.

"As the farm price of chicken has increased to RM5.70 per kg, we have to sell to retailers at RM6.80 per kg compared to RM6.50 per kg previously.

"On the other hand, retailers are selling them at RM7.50 per kg (slaughtered and dressed super chicken without feet, head, liver and gizzard) to consumers," he told reporters at the Payang Main Market on Sunday.

He urged the government to reduce the farm price of chicken to about RM5 per kg.

Based on the price of 13 items under the Price Control Scheme for Chinese New Year (CNY), the price of live chicken (farm) is fixed at RM5.70 per kg (wholesale price) while the retail price is fixed at RM6.20 per kg.

The standard chicken price (slaughtered and dressed with feet, head, liver and gizzard) is RM6.80 per kg (wholesale price) and RM7.50 per kg (retail price) while super chicken is RM7.50 per kg (wholesale price) and RM8.30 per kg (retail price).

Another wholesaler, Mohd Azlan Shamsuddin, said despite rising production costs such as management and fuel, the farm price should not be set so high.

"We are under a great deal of pressure because as wholesalers we have to do a lot of work before the processed chicken can be sold to retailers," he said.

Claiming that he has suffered losses during the Deepavali and CNY festive seasons, wholesaler Mat Rohek Musa, said: "In Terengganu, the Chinese prefer kampung chicken. Despite the price increase at the farm level, chicken are not high in demand here like in the Klang Valley. So wholesalers here are in a bad shape."