BUKIT MERTAJAM, April 6 – The Department of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) in Penang has refuted claims that there has been a shortage of chicken eggs in the state over the past week.
Its director, Mohd Ridzuan Ab Ghafar, said that based on his team’s monitoring of the situation, the supply of chicken eggs was sufficient during Ramadan, in particular to meet the high demand for eggs from traders and entrepreneurs in the Raya cookies and cakes.
“If consumers or members of the public cannot source chicken eggs or chicken in the state, they can lodge complaints with the Penang KPDNHEP so that immediate action can be taken. However, for now, based on our monitoring, there is no shortage (of eggs),” he told reporters after “Ops Pantau” at the Perda Mosque Ramadan Bazaar. here today.
He said this when asked to comment on a newspaper article about Penang chicken egg wholesalers worried about falling supply and fearing they could not meet demand from half of their customers. regular.
A chicken egg wholesaler in the Sud-Ouest district who wanted to be known only as Zul, 42, reportedly said he had to give priority to his usual clientele, namely miscellaneous shops, public markets, supermarkets as well as bakers, but it has been limiting the number of orders.
Meanwhile, Mohd Ridzuan said his team had not received any complaints regarding the increase in the price of chicken which was set at RM8.90 per kilogram like what happened in several other states over the past of the month of Ramadan due to strong consumer demand.
“So far, we are observing that the sale price of chicken is in line with the set price…KPDNHEP law enforcement will monitor the situation from time to time to ensure that traders are complying with the set prices and don’t raise prices,” he said.
In the meantime, he said a total of 121 Penang KPDNHEP enforcement officers were involved in “Op Pantau” in 74 Ramadan bazaars in the state during Ramadan in locations that are the focus of concern for consumers.
He said similar operations have also been carried out at wet markets, farmers’ markets, night markets, supermarkets and various shops to ensure that consumers will be able to buy food and their daily necessities at reasonable prices, without any profit from traders.
“From April 3 to yesterday, a total of 749 premises were inspected and there were two instances where action was taken under the Weights and Measures Act 1972 and the Control Act 2011 prices and the fight against profit involving a compound value of RM700,” he said. added. — Bernama
