Malaysia Veterinary Forum (Archive)

Dr. TanDY · Posted: Thu May 25, 2006 7:55 am Post subject: [News] Pork boycott called off

Pork boycott called off

Wednesday May 24, 2006

Source:The Star Online

PUTRAJAYA: The boycott is off. After weeks of squabbling over the price of pork, pig farmers and butchers have finally come to a compromise in time for those celebrating the Dumpling Festival next week to enjoy their bak chang (pork dumpling).

With farmers agreeing to lower the price to RM640 per 100kg, butchers have called off their boycott on the sale of pork from May 27 to June 1.

The butchers' boycott was planned earlier to coincide with the May 31 festival to protest against pig farmers raising prices.

The Federation of Livestock Farmers Associations of Malaysia then agreed to lower the price of pigs from the original RM690 per 100kg to RM670, while butchers wanted the price to be set at RM630 per 100kg.

After chairing a day-long meeting with various groups yesterday, Deputy Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Datuk Mah Siew Keong said a compromise had been reached.

Also present at the meeting were MCA central committee member Datuk Dr Lee Chong Meng, Veterinary Services Department acting director-general Datuk Dr Mustapa Abdul Jalil and Federation of Chinese Associations of Malaysia president Datuk Seri Lim Gait Tong.

“There was good cooperation among all those present at the meeting despite their initial differences,” Mah said when contacted here yesterday.

The price of pigs reached a record high of RM690 per 100kg recently compared with RM500 last year. Prices have been raised four times since January.

After butchers proposed their boycott, pig farmers had retorted by saying they would sell pork directly to consumers.

Mah said the compromise was timely in view of the coming festival.