KUALA LUMPUR, June 21 – The government’s initiative to subsidize egg prices is a welcome relief, but the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) emphasizes that this should be viewed as a temporary measure. While the subsidy helps lower food prices, it is crucial for the government to address Malaysia’s deeper, long-standing food security challenges. Malaysians consume over 940 million eggs monthly, highlighting the importance of eggs as an affordable protein source.
However, CAP insists that subsidies for sugar should be avoided due to the country’s high diabetes rate, which is among the highest globally. To ensure long-term food security, CAP recommends reducing dependency on imported poultry feed by investing in local feed production, leveraging research by Malaysian higher education institutes. Additionally, poultry farmers should decrease their reliance on imported breeding chickens.
Retailers must adhere to approved egg prices, with non-compliance reportable to the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDNKSH). As Malaysia continues to grapple with food security issues dating back to the 1980s, a revival of the agricultural sector is imperative to ensure a stable and self-sufficient food supply.
