As Malaysia bans chicken exports, Singapore’s de facto national dish is caught in the crossfire

Singapore is prepared for a shortfall of chicken rice, the country’s de facto national dish, as a major supplier, Malaysia, has halted all chicken exports as of Wednesday.

As supplies of the staple food deplete from neighbouring Malaysia, where production has been interrupted by a global feed scarcity, restaurants and street stalls in the city-state are considering raising prices or shutting down entirely.

Malaysia’s export prohibition is the latest indicator of worsening global food shortages as countries struggle to shore up local supplies and control food inflation in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, extreme weather, and pandemic-related supply disruptions. Protests have already erupted in Argentina, Indonesia, Greece, and Iran as a result of rising food prices. L5N2XA3U7

Malaysia’s ban, according to Daniel Tan, proprietor of the OK Chicken Rice network of seven stalls, will be “catastrophic” for vendors like him. “We would be unable to sell as a result of the ban. It’s like going to McDonald’s but not ordering a burger “he stated

He went on to say that his booths generally get live birds from Malaysia, but that they would have to convert to frozen chicken within the week, and that they predict a “significant drop in sales” when people respond to the lower quality of the meal.