The Kuching and Samarahan Divisions Livestock Breeders Association is lobbying for review of the ceiling price of chicken, citing higher production costs that have forced some local farms to temporarily freeze operations.

A spokesperson for the association is also seeking a ban on the import of frozen chicken and chicken parts.

"Imported frozen chicken now makes up about 35 percent of the state's total supply of chicken. Poultry farms have been forced to cut production from about 2.5 million to some 1.7 million birds a month," the spokesperson claimed.

The association believes that the absence of duty on chicken imports has resulted in the dumping of chicken parts "rejected" by other countries.

An earlier appeal to the domestic trade and consumer affairs ministry was to no avail. It decided that the price of whole dressed chicken should stay at RM6 per kilogramme, since traders are allowed to sell chicken parts at a higher price.

However, some retailers in wet markets and open-air stalls are playing a cat-and-mouse game with the authorities in selling fresh chicken at RM6.50 per kilogramme.

They have complained that business has been slow because of the impact of avian flu and high ex-farm prices.

It is learnt that the price of fowls is tagged at RM5.50 per kilogramme, but that traders are receiving the birds at RM6 per kilogramme from suppliers.

Breeders' complaints

Breeders, meanwhile, have claimed that their operations have been affected by a sharp increase in the cost of chicken feed - it has catapulted from RM4.60 to RM9 per kilogramme in less than six months.

This, they said, has been aggravated by the state government's decision to allow the import of chicken parts, particularly wings and drumstick.

Last year, Sarawak imported 5,800 tonnes of chicken parts, of which 5,508 tonnes comprised chicken wings.

Imported parts made up 13.62 percent of the 42,567 tonnes of chicken parts consumed statewide, with local production accounting for 36,767 tonnes over this period.

The actual import volume is alleged to be much higher because big quantities of chicken parts are said to be smuggled in and offered at low prices.

JIMMY TEOH is malaysiakini 's Sarawak-based stringer.