The Coconut Club, Kampong Chicken Rice Hawkers Say Fresh M’sia Bird Supply “Undisrupted” Despite Jun 1 Export Ban

Singapore’s eateries are getting some fresh chickens from Malaysia after all, despite an export ban on fresh poultry that’s expected to take effect from Jun 1. This is due to a domestic supply shortage caused by a spike in chicken feed prices, which shot up after major grain producers Russia and Ukraine went to war.

Malaysia exports some 3.6 million chickens a month to Singapore, reports CNA. For fresh chickens, the chooks are usually sent live here to be slaughtered and chilled for storage.

Following the announcement, local chicken purveyors like Tian Tian Chicken Rice stated that it will stop selling its signature poached chickens until supply resumes, while nasi lemak specialist Dickson Nasi Lemak took the drastic step of closing for a month as there were no fresh chickens for its ayam goreng berempah.

But the dire supply situation may be eased a little, as fresh kampong chickens and a premium French breed are apparently excluded from Malaysia’s export ban (this is a developing story).

Photo: CNA

Kampong chickens allowed, says farm rep 

In a May 27 video interview with CNA, Scott Ang, a rep for Aqina Farm Singapore (which markets itself as the “first and only producer of organic certified kampong chickens in Singapore”), says kampong and organic chickens have been cleared for export by the Malaysian authorities. Aqina Farm runs 16 farms in Malaysia. 

He also shares with The Business Times that the farm has gotten confirmation - after virtual meetings with the authorities - that the organic and kampong birds have been given “special approval” to be exempted from the ban. This is because “there's a higher local demand for broiler chicken”, which are priced lower than organic or kampong chickens (the latter characterised by its leaner meat and yellowish skin).

Broilers are young chooks cage-bred in factory farms for the mass market, and typically reach slaughter size faster. These are the chickens you can usually find in any supermarket, while kampong chickens, which are raised over a longer period in spacious surroundings, are more limited in supply and pricier. “The objective of the ban is to ensure an adequate supply of chicken to Malaysians at an accessible price,” Scott points out. He tells CNA that Aqina Farm exports about 40 per cent kampong chickens and 60 per cent broiler chickens to Singapore.

Photo: The Coconut Club

No disruption to GG French Poulet supply

Nasi lemak restaurant The Coconut Club will also continue to serve its French poulet after Jun 1. “Our supply of GG French Poulet chickens remains undisrupted, and there are no price changes,” says Daniel Sia, managing partner of The Coconut Club. He adds: “That’s what our supplier says at the moment — it’s subjected to changes by the authorities."

GG French Poulet (also called Anxin chicken) is an organic French breed reared in Malaysia by homegrown farm Toh Thye San. Fed a corn-based vegetarian diet in certified humane conditions, the chooks are sent to Singapore for slaughter.

Photo: instagram.com/@chanksters

Kampong chicken hawkers to get “continuous supply”

Kampong chicken rice specialist Chicken House will get a “continuous supply” of birds, its owner Vincent Chew tells 8days.sg. The eatery has two outlets in Upper Thomson and Bukit TImah. “Prices may go up after Jun 1 depending on the stocks,” he says, adding that it will “probably be $1 to $2 per bird” and “maybe 50 cents per plate.” Staff at Kampong Chicken Eating House in Outram Road also confirms with 8days.sg that its supply of chicken “remains unchanged.”