Focus on solving current shortage of chickens and eggs, Tiong tells two federal ministries

 SIBU, February 9, 2022 - Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing today called on the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries to focus on solving the current market shortage of chickens and eggs in Sarawak.

Picture: Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing

He said these are essential and daily necessities for people and their livelihoods as they form the bulk of the raw materials needed by the food manufacturing industry.

“In short, the issue of chicken shortage should not have been allowed to happen in the first place.

“The government’s restrictive regulations on the rearing, processing, and supply of chicken and eggs coupled with disallowing retailers to raise prices without authorisation to ease the burden on consumers, have nonetheless impacted suppliers and their ability to compete and bring sufficient supply to market.

“This has inadvertently caused a shortage for consumers who are now affected by insufficient supply in the market and destabilising the food supply chain,” Tiong, who is also Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) president and Dudong State Assemblyman, said when commenting the shortage of chickens and eggs in the market.

“We need to have an in-depth understanding and sound strategy to avoid this shortage, including delivering the promised incentives to the traders, instead of leaving them to fend for themselves.

“Under the pressure of Covid-19, with a weak economy and various instabilities, people are suffering.

“We need to do what we can to make adjustments and subsidies to help these livestock farmers, rather than forcing them to take their losses.

“These government agencies must go down to the ground to have dialogues with their stakeholders among the farmers and livestock rearers and understand their difficulties and find a balance.

“No party needs to suffer losses unnecessarily and lead to panic buying and hoarding by consumers. Otherwise, we would see that the costs of raising and supplying livestock will be higher than the ceiling prices set by the Government. To this end, no one would win.

“We must understand that the shortage of chickens and eggs is not deliberately caused by farms and related businesses.

“In the face of soaring transportation costs of imported feed and other livestock costs, they must also endure government regulations that prohibit price increases.

“Many breeders have complained to me that they could no longer take the losses and would rather not sell or rear more livestock in order to stave off further losses.

“Setting a ceiling price and allowing all merchants who have obtained a temporary approved permit (AP) to import whole chickens not only fails to address the root causes of the problem but is also unfriendly to the industry as a whole.

“There is also no control over how long the imported frozen chickens have been kept,” Tiong said, adding that these kinds of half measures cannot achieve the goal of reducing the people’s burdens.

He stressed one can guarantee where the price of imported frozen chicken will increase in the future. “If there is no supply of chicken, the supply of eggs will be affected. How will we deal with this? “ he asked.

“Without chickens, from where will we import eggs? We need to strive to achieve food self-sufficiency, instead of relying on food imports.

“Such imports are temporary solutions at best, and no one is willing to do business at a loss so it is imperative for us to formulate an effective long-term win-win solution,” he said.

He urged the government to take this matter seriously and implement lasting solutions, adding that he will also be reporting to Prime Minister Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakob  to discuss this issue so that the relevant departments handle the people’s livelihoods with more care and sincere actions.

Labour Law Reform Coalition slams employers federation for using Covid-19 to suppress minimum wage increase

 KUCHING, February 9, 2022- The Labour Law Reform Coalition (LLRC) today urged the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) to stop weaponizing Covid-19 to suppress the minimum wage rise. 

“We must remind MEF that during the pandemic workers were suffering as much as employers. Many were laid off, forced to take unpaid leave or have substantial wage cuts. MEF should not exaggerate employers’ suffering but neglect the sacrifice of workers,” LLRC co-chairpersons N. Gopal Kishnam and Irene Xavier (picture) said in a statement. 

“Since the negative impact of the pandemic was shouldered equally by employers and workers, why can’t employers share economic profit in the form of wage rise with workers when the economy is recovering?” they asked. 

They said economic analysts have forecasted that Malaysia’s GDP growth will increase from 3.5 percent in 2021 to 6.2 percent. 

“(Therefore) it is unfair to say that the wage rise will kill businesses,” they added. 

“When the economy is returning to normal, it is time for employers to compensate workers with a higher wage floor. We must remember that our minimum wages are still below the poverty line. 

“The market must recognize that there is a human element in determining labour cost, please treat workers as human beings who need decent living, rather than as a commodity that generates profits for capital owners. 

“We urge the government to immediately announce the new minimum wage,” adding that the delay in implementing the new minimum wage has again violated the purpose of the National Wage Consultative Council Act that requires the minimum wage to be revised every two years. 

In a recent statement, MEF claimed that the increasing the minimum wage to RM1,500 per month before the year end would kill businesses that were still reeling from the economic shock of the Covid-19 pandemic and the devastating effects of the recent major floods. 

 MEF president Datuk Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman said, instead of raising the minimum wage, efforts should be directed towards business recovery of the private sector and controlling the rising cost of products and services, the MEF said. 

“We must remember that most Malaysian businesses are micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), 98.9% are in this group. 

“So, when we talk about wages and cost, we must think of their survival and sustainability. MSMEs are suffering and even [with] a small increase in their cost, they will suffer and close down, what more an increase of RM300/400 per month on top of existing national minimum wages,” he had said. 

He also expects the move to result in higher unemployment and business debts, as companies would be unable to service their loans. 

The MEF's statement came a day after Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Saravanan Murugan said a new minimum wage of “around RM1,500 a month” was expected to be implemented before the end of this year. 

He said the new rate had yet to be finalised, as the ministry was awaiting Cabinet approval. In February 2020, Malaysia’s minimum wage was raised to the current RM1,200 per month from RM1,100 per month previously.

Covid-19 cases in Sarawak have jumped to 129 today

 KUCHING, February 8, 2022 - The number of Covid-19 positive cases in Sarawak today has breached the 100-mark for the first time this year, the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC)  said in a statement. 

According to the latest figures, the state recorded 129 cases compared to 84 recorded yesterday. 

The latest figures bring the total cumulative cases to 253,216 since the first case was detected in 2020. 

SDMC said out of 129 cases, 65 of them were clinically classified as Category One (without symptoms) and 54 as Category Two (with mild symptoms). 

There were no news cases classified as categories 3 to 5. 

SDMC said there were no deaths due to Covid-19 infections reported today. 

Kuching registered the most number with 54 cases today, followed by Sibu with 35, Miri 18, Limbang nine, Kapit four, Song and Bintulu with three each while Lundu, Meradong and Samarahan with one each. 

There are no reports of Covid-19 cases in other districts. 

SDMC said there are also no reports of new Covid-19 clusters.

National Recovery Council has recommended for the opening up of the national economy by March 1, says Chong Chieng Jen

 KUCHING, February 8, 2022 - The National Recovery Council (NRC) today recommended for the opening up of the country’s economy, which will involve the opening of the borders to foreigners to enter the country, by March 1, Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen, who is also a member of the council, said today.

Picture: Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen hopes that Sarawak will also open its borders to foreigners

He said the recommendation was proposed at NRC meeting chaired by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin at the Ministry of Finance building at Putrajaya.

“Among  the things resolved in the meeting is the opening up of our economy by March 1 whereby foreigners will be allowed to enter the country upon tested negative of Covid-19 and without the need to quarantine.

“This resolution of the meeting will be submitted to the Cabinet for approval,” Chong, who is also Stampin Member of Parliament, said in a statement.

Among those who attended the meeting were Minister of Finance, Minister of Health, Minister of International Trade and Industry, Minister of Works and Minister of Economy,

According to Chong, the council members gave their support to the recommendation.

“Now that Singapore, Thailand, England, Australia and many other countries are gradually opening up their borders and removing the need for quarantine upon entry into their countries, Malaysia cannot afford to continue imposing quarantine on foreigners.  

“Therefore, it is most likely that the Cabinet will endorse the recommendation of the NRC,” he said.

He  hoped that the state government make preparations to draw up the necessary standard operating procedures (SOPs) for such opening of the borders for foreign arrivals.

He said the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) will not be in disarray and slow to follow suit when the time comes.

“Our domestic economy has suffered tremendously over the past two years of the pandemic where tourists were literally reduced to zero.  

“Not only the tourism industry suffered but many other sectors of the economy also suffered,” he said, adding that the people’s predicaments were made worse with the confusing SOPs imposed by the SDMC which at times differed from the Ministry of Health.

“Therefore, I urge the state government to quickly make preparation for the opening of borders, standardise the SOPs and communicate with the private sectors to get them ready for the recovery plan,” he said.

Kelvin Yii to MoH: Reach out to the unvaccinated and un-boosted to shorten period of Omicron variant surge

KUCHING, February 8, 2022: Bandar Kuching MP Kelvin Yii has called on the federal government and the Ministry of Health (MoH) to ramp up their strategic communications to reach out to the unvaccinated and even the un-boosted in order to shorten "the surge period" in view of the current fourth wave of infections due to the highly infectious Omicron variant.

Picture: Kelin Yii says  MoH data has shown that a wider booster coverage could lead to reduction in hospitalisation

He said these include engaging and encouraging parents to get their children vaccinated including the 5-11 year olds.

“While many reports have said that the severity of the Omicron variant may be milder, but its impact should not be underestimated, and we must not let our guards down and maintain our preparedness for fighting the pandemic,” he said in a statement today.

“What is of concern now is that while Delta may be perceived as a "pandemic of the un-vaccinated", then Omicron could be the "pandemic of the un-boosted",” he added.

Yii said the real world data all around the world shows booster Covid-19 shots significantly restore protection against the Omicron variant and help to prevent serious symptoms, which could lead to reduction of hospitalisation and intensive care unit (ICU) treatment.

He said data from MoH has shown that a wider booster coverage could lead to a reduction in hospitalisation rate as seen here in Sarawak.

“That is why a “booster dose campaign” must be launched to exponentially increase our booster dose uptake to ensure the most vulnerable are getting the most optimum protection.

“As of February 6, 2022, 52.8 per cent of adults have received their boosters,” he  said, pointing out that there are one million senior citizens who are not yet boosted and 3.5 million individuals who were fully vaccinated with Sinovac vaccines have not yet received their boosters.

“Hence the government must also improve their risk communication and allay concerns of those still hesitant to take the vaccine or the booster dose,” he said.

Yii added another important demographic of course is the children and engagements must be done with parents to allay some of their concerns.

“Such engagements is not just about the volume done, but more importantly it must be continuous, consistent and also widespread.

“A campaign or roadshow can be done in public areas including shopping malls and even in schools. They can set up booths in such areas to answer questions parents may have on vaccination.

“The government can also set up a website with all necessary and updated information as well as FAQs where parents can go and get updated and verified information.

“Another concern is to deal with logistical issues that may be faced by parents to bring their children for vaccination.

“I hope the government will issue directive for their civil servants and even incentivise the private sector to allow parents to take leave to bring their children for vaccination in designated PPVs and even if needed time off to take care of their children if they develop certain adverse effects,” he said. 

Yii said the government should also look at doing such vaccinations at schools to address possible logistical issues especially in the rural areas, saying that vaccines have  always been administered among children in schools, and such mechanism can be done for the Covid-19 vaccination.

He said the increase of positive cases is inevitable with Omicron and it will increase in the next few weeks.

However, he said, the data and facts clearly shows that vaccination and public health intervention works.