Malaysian Prime Minister, Ismail Sabri Yaakob, stated on Monday that Malaysia will halt chicken export starting June 1, to address the domestic supply shortage.

His statement followed a Cabinet meeting about the increasing prices of essential goods and chicken supply issues in Malaysia.

Malaysia exports 1.6 million chicken a month. However, supply shortages and price hikes have led to the government decision to create a buffer stock of chicken for domestic use, including optimisation of existing cold storage facilities under the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries (MAFI) and agencies' ownership.

Supply shortages have led to some retailers imposing a purchase limit on chicken.