SHAH ALAM, Oct 31 — The federal government’s announcement to lift subsidies and price controls on chicken effective tomorrow is considered the right move to ensure that any subsidy programme benefits the intended target group.
Selangor Infrastructure and Agriculture Committee chairman Izham Hashim said the floating of chicken prices would result in actual benefits, with the subsidy programme being focused only on those who need it the most.
“I have always thought that if we want to implement targeted subsidies, we have to float the prices of all goods, including rice and eggs.
“Then we give it (subsidies) back to the eligible people in the form of coupons or so on. That way, only the deserving groups will enjoy the subsidies,” he told reporters at the Selangor Agro Icon Award Ceremony 2022, here, last night.
Yesterday, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said the government has agreed that subsidies and price controls on chicken will be discontinued from November 1.
Mohamad said the decision was in line with the government’s approach of retargeting subsidies in phases.
Meanwhile, Izham said the price of chicken under the Jualan Ehsan Rahmah programme will remain at RM10 per bird, adding that his party aims to sell other fresh produce such as vegetables and fruits.
Currently, the sales programme under the Selangor government focuses on selling sources of protein such as chicken, fish, meat, eggs, rice and cooking oil at cheaper than the market price in all constituencies throughout the state.
— Bernama
