Minister Slams Dap For Politicising Chicken Export Ban

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The public has responded positively to the ban on the export of chickens, says minister Alexander Nanta Linggi.KUALA LUMPUR: A federal minister has hit out at DAP for “politicising” the government’s decision to ban the export of chickens and cancelling the approved permits (APs) for importing certain food products, following a shortage in supply.
Domestic trade and consumer affairs minister Alexander Nanta Linggi said the decision was based on complaints by the public over the shortage in the supply of foodstuff, including chicken.
“We are prioritising the people. If DAP says (that we rushed through our decision), then when is the right time (to impose chicken export ban and cancelling APs)?” he asked, adding that the public had responded positively to the export ban, contrary to claims by the poultry industry.
Nanta was speaking to reporters after attending the ministry’s Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration at Pavilion Bukit Jalil.
Alexander Nanta Linggi.Earlier today, DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook slammed the export ban and the abolishment of the AP for food imports, labelling it a short-term solution to the problem.
Loke, a minister in the previous Pakatan Harapan government, said supply shortages were bound to recur as long as the issue was not thoroughly assessed and resolved.
“This is an overly hasty response by the government,” he had said.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced a ban on the export of 3.6 million whole chickens a month, to be implemented on June 1, until the prices and supply of chicken stabilised.
Ismail also announced that import permits for chicken and wheat would be abolished as part of measures to stem the shortage of these food products.
Nanta also said the government did not impose the export ban out of the blue.
“It is not like we announced the ban today, and will enforce it tomorrow,” he said, adding that if they had taken a longer time to respond to the crisis, people would be “suffering for a long time”.
“Therefore, DAP should not be politicising this issue.”
On another matter, Nanta said the government was still considering whether to continue the Keluarga Malaysia Maximum Price Control Scheme, which expires on June 4. - FMT

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