CHICKEN SANS CHECK

Retail licences for chicken, mild steel round bars and cement will be abolished in Malaysia to allow market forces to determine their prices, said Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob. The move would also check the smuggling of the products, he said. He also said the supply of chicken had been more stable following the imposition of price control. The removal of the retail licences for the three items would enable the ministry to better focus on the pricing and supply of sugar, wheat flour and cooking oil. “In 2008, the ministry abolished the price control on chicken, steel and cement. However, it maintained control on supply and, through licensing, the supply of chicken in the country stabilised,” he said at a press conference at his office in Parliament House.