Govt should offer assistance to reduce high pork prices – DAP

9 February 2022

By Wartawan Nabalu News

KOTA KINABALU: The Government should offer any kind of assistance to reduce the prices of pork, said Sabah DAP Chief Datuk Frankie Poon Ming Fung.

He suggested that the government could give out soft loans to local manufacturers of swine feeds to reduce the costs of imports.

“I realise that as soon as the market has reopened after the lockdown one sure thing is that prices of many have gone up a fair bit, including the price of pork has also gone up.

“It seems that there is no rationale for such a price increase,” said the State Assemblyman of Tanjong Papat in a statement today.

According to Poon, he was informed that suppliers of pigs have increased their prices on a monthly basis from RM1.00 to RM1.50 and RM0.50 per kilo since Dec 2021 which is an increase by RM3.00 or 27.27 per cent over three months to distributors from RM11 per kg to RM14.00.

“No wonder it would come as a shock to many consumers as end buyers. Producers claimed that it is due to the rising costs of feeds. It can also be due to supply and demand.

“Can the price adjust itself to make it cheaper over time when less people consume? Will the local pork industry collapse if the prices are not lower?”

He said since pork is a meat has been used regularly consumed by many Chinese and non-Muslims, the rising prices will certainly cause severe adverse impact to the business communities.

“I suggest the Government should come in to offer any kind of assistance to reduce the prices of pork. Maybe giving out soft loans to local manufacturers of swine feeds to reduce the costs of imports.

“Otherwise, over time unemployment rate may increase. In due course, will we be dependent on importing frozen hogs?”