Back in May, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had to place a temporary ban on chicken exports due to a nationwide shortage. Now, the issue revolves around eggs as Malaysia continues to face a shortage.
Europe has seen its worst-ever bird flu crisis this year, with an unprecedented number of outbreaks reported in wild and domestic birds that have caused an impact on poultry farming and an increase in the costs of maize and soybean feed to make chicken feed.
Recently, eggs have been sold out at many major supermarkets and sundry shops across the country. Federation of Sundry Goods Merchants Associations of Malaysia president Hong Chee Meng explained that any eggs that are put out in the market are quickly snapped up and that this shortage was due to an increase in costs that caused poultry farms to cut down on their production.
On 10 October, the Malaysian government made an announcement that it would maintain the ceiling prices of type A, B, and C eggs even though the subsidy was being increased from three to eight sen.
According to The Star, poultry farmers predict that ahead of the Christmas season, the current shortage of price-controlled eggs may intensify.
We spoke to a mini market owner Loo, who has been operating his store for decades. He said “The shortage of eggs can be seen whenever I try to place orders lately as there is often no stock. Suppliers try to encourage me to order Omega eggs instead rather than conventional eggs.”
We also spoke to a resident of Simpang Ampat, Penang who said that the prices of eggs in his area had recently risen by RM0.30 for ten eggs one week before Deepavali.
When we personally visited our neighbourhood Jaya Grocer store in KL, however, we found that there was plenty of supply to be found.
The current maximum retail price of Grade A chicken eggs is at 45 sen each, 43 sen for Grade B, 41 sen for Grace C in Peninsular Malaysia. Meanwhile, in Sabah, Sarawak, Langkawi, and Labuan, the maximum prices of chicken and eggs vary depending on zones and districts.
These prices do not apply to branded eggs that have additional supplements such as Omega-3 fatty acids, ‘kampung’ eggs, or organically produced eggs.
Lee Yoon Yeau, the deputy president of the Federation of Livestock Farmers Associations of Malaysia has commented that the situation will not improve even next year unless the government floats the prices of eggs that are currently regulated and instead, leave it to market forces.
Has the egg shortage in your area left you scrambling? *This is the last egg pun, we promise.
Image credit: @ammAsyraf, Erol Ahmed on Unsplash