A chicken trader is pictured at the Selayang wholesale market in Kuala Lumpur April 21, 2021. — Picture by Hari AnggaraKUALA LUMPUR, April 25 — Malaysians have once again been forced to fork out more for chicken this Ramadan, with market traders left to placate aggrieved customers.
Raja, who also owns a chicken farm in Ipoh, said he understands how the business works, yet is all too aware of those who only see profit. “My regulars get angry with me, asking me why the price is so high. I tell them there is nothing much that I can do. The suppliers sell at a higher price so I have to raise my price also,” he said.
“It’s the same story every year. Before Raya, just as we enter Ramadan, chicken prices go up. Every year, we chicken traders get together and discuss how to go about the price increase. “My customers are angry with me. They keep asking me why chicken is so expensive. These are the people who buy twice, sometimes three times a week from me to run their restaurants.
“But this year I’m staying mum, because as chicken prices go up, I can bump up my prices a little too, so I earn more for my family,” he admitted.