Malaysians want speedy solution to food shortages

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Malaysians want speedy solution to food shortages

Shoppers who spoke to CNA said it was too soon since Mr Anwar took over the reins to make any difference, and they are willing to give him more time and space to do his job.

He is so busy. Not so soon lah. He will come, give him time, he will do it, said one Malaysian.

You don't say I am the prime minister today, and tomorrow I will have eggs on the shelves. It takes 52 days. For a chicken to lay an egg, it takes 52 days to lay an egg, said Ameer Ali Mydin, managing director of retail chain Mydin Mohamed Holdings.

Retailers said they were hoping that the prime minister and his government would come up with a quick solution, preferably before the holiday season goes into full swing.

Everywhere there is a shortage and why there is a shortage I think we need to look at the structure. The cost is higher, that is what the breeders are telling us, said Ameer Ali.

If this problem is not solved quickly and quickly, we have Christmas and there are cakes and sweets that use eggs. Then we have Chinese New Year coming, then Hari Raya said.

The shortage was due to the slashing of production due to the increased prices of chicken feed, according to industry players.

Concern over food prices is not specific to eggs, but they point out that other items are heavily subsidised but suffer from erratic supplies, such as chicken and cooking oil.

I don't have the packet cooking oil in my store. Mr Ameer Ali said we just put up in the morning and it finished because there's a lot of leakages of cooking oil.

He said that Malaysia's borders are porous, some heavily subsidised poly bag oils, also known as lower grade cooking oil, are smuggled to neighbouring countries such as Thailand, causing a limited supply for Malaysian consumers.

The government is aware of this but someone has to have the political will to make the decision.

Malaysia spent RM $4 billion US $908 million to subsidise cooking oil for the lower income group and small traders, but many have said they don't get to fully enjoy the subsidies.

It is really hard to find poly bag cooking oil. I can only find two bags a week, and that is not enough. Street peddler Isah Hassan, who sells deep fried keropok, or fish crackers, said the bottled ones are way too expensive.

The prime minister may have to tackle issues such as rolling back subsidies, dismantling the cartels and removing the middlemen in order to improve the cost structure.

He said that you can't expect business as usual, things must change starting with leadership.

Issues of procurement, and awarding contracts without tender, can't continue. He said that the country can't allow more leakage, pilferage, and corruption.