Reveal 35 AP holders who import chicken, govt told
Former deputy minister Sim Tze Tzin said granting more APs would put local poultry farmers at a huge disadvantage and make Malaysia dependent on food from other countries.
KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition MP Sim Tze Tzin (PH-Bayan Baru) has called on the government to reveal the names of the 35 holders of approved permits (APs) allowed to import chicken.
He said this was necessary to curb the practice of renting out the permits as part of “get-rich-quick schemes”.
Debating the King’s address at the Dewan Rakyat today, Sim asked how many tonnes of chicken had been brought into the country.
He claimed APs had been abused by politically connected individuals, who would then sell them to others, thus creating “a web of rent-seekers”.
KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition MP Sim Tze Tzin (PH-Bayan Baru) has called on the government to reveal the names of the 35 holders of approved permits (APs) allowed to import chicken.
He said this was necessary to curb the practice of renting out the permits as part of “get-rich-quick schemes”.
Debating the King’s address at the Dewan Rakyat today, Sim asked how many tonnes of chicken had been brought into the country.
He claimed APs had been abused by politically connected individuals, who would then sell them to others, thus creating “a web of rent-seekers”.
Sim Tze Tzin.
He called on the government to stop issuing more APs as this would not benefit the people in the long run.
Sim, who formerly served as deputy agriculture and agro-based industry minister in the Pakatan Harapan government, said granting more APs would just open the floodgates and allow imported chicken to flood the market, putting local poultry farmers at a great disadvantage.
“Our small, local poultry companies cannot compete with giant poultry companies from China or Vietnam.
“To ensure our local poultry farmers can survive, the National Action Council on Cost of Living needs to stop issuing APs.”
He said the agriculture and food industries ministry had in the past been resistant to the idea of granting APs to import food products as this would only make Malaysia more dependent on other countries for its needs.
Recently, independent researcher and former academic, Murray Hunter, wrote that the government had allowed 35 companies to import chicken on a temporary basis to alleviate the shortage in the market.
He claimed these highly sought-after APs were not given out fairly, according to some industry sources.
He said there were widespread claims by players in the industry that a cartel of companies was preparing to enter the market once existing producers had closed down.
He called on the government to stop issuing more APs as this would not benefit the people in the long run.
Sim, who formerly served as deputy agriculture and agro-based industry minister in the Pakatan Harapan government, said granting more APs would just open the floodgates and allow imported chicken to flood the market, putting local poultry farmers at a great disadvantage.
“Our small, local poultry companies cannot compete with giant poultry companies from China or Vietnam.
“To ensure our local poultry farmers can survive, the National Action Council on Cost of Living needs to stop issuing APs.”
He said the agriculture and food industries ministry had in the past been resistant to the idea of granting APs to import food products as this would only make Malaysia more dependent on other countries for its needs.
Recently, independent researcher and former academic, Murray Hunter, wrote that the government had allowed 35 companies to import chicken on a temporary basis to alleviate the shortage in the market.
He claimed these highly sought-after APs were not given out fairly, according to some industry sources.
He said there were widespread claims by players in the industry that a cartel of companies was preparing to enter the market once existing producers had closed down.
I believe Malaysia is about the only country which issues APs for importation of goods.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I gather, APs have been used by the lucky few alotted these APs to make money by selling onward these APs.
I must confess I am no expert on APs. But the issue of APs for cars reminded me of the money lucky individuals just by getting these APs due to certain connections.
In the case of chickens, I can only cite my experience in Singapore where the prices of chicken did not spike drastically even during CNY. And this in a country that imports about 60 to 70% of their chickens.
No such thing as APs in Singapore