KUALA LUMPUR: The government is drafting a National Food Security Act to provide a strong legal foundation to safeguard the nation’s food security, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof says.
He said enshrining food security as a constitutional commitment reflects the Madani government’s resolve to ensure that no one in Malaysia goes hungry.
Fadillah added that food security is not the responsibility of the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry alone, but a shared duty involving all sectors of government and society.
The Energy Transition and Water Transformation (Petra) Minister said this in his speech at the launch of the National Food Security Policy (DKMN 2030) and the National Food Security Action Plan 2026–2030 here on Wednesday (Jan 29).
Also present was Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, who said food security has evolved from being merely a geopolitical instrument to a key determinant of national stability.
In his address, Fadillah said the world is facing extraordinary uncertainty, driven by factors ranging from extreme climate change to geopolitical conflicts that continue to disrupt global supply chains.
Globally, he said, the food security gap is widening, with regions such as Africa and low-income countries remaining highly vulnerable to malnutrition. Hundreds of millions of people worldwide still go to bed hungry.
Citing the Global Food Security Index (GFSI), Fadillah said the average global score in 2022 declined slightly to 62.2 out of 100 from 62.6 the previous year, reflecting persistent challenges across multiple dimensions of the global food system.
“The world today is experiencing what is known as the ‘perfect storm’, a convergence of multiple crises occurring simultaneously, shaking the stability of the global food supply chain,” he said.
He identified extreme climate change, pest and disease threats, geopolitical tensions and land use changes as key factors disrupting food production and supply.
“We are facing intense competition between industrial development and the preservation of agricultural land. Fertile land is shrinking, replaced by concrete jungles in the pursuit of modernisation,” he said.
As a result, Malaysia is facing rising logistics costs and sharp increases in the prices of imported agricultural inputs, particularly grain corn and chemical fertilisers, he added.
“When these costs rise, they trigger a domino effect that fuels global food price inflation. Ultimately, the burden is borne by the people. Our dependence on external supply chains makes us vulnerable to global economic shocks,” he said.
Fadillah cautioned against complacency, even though Malaysia currently enjoys relatively stable food security, with adequate supply and more controlled affordability compared with neighbouring and regional countries.
He said Malaysia remains strong in poultry and egg production, with the self-sufficiency ratio (SSR) for chicken at 92.9% and eggs at 107% in 2024.
The SSR for fruits stands at 96.8%, while tropical vegetables are at 83.1%, both sufficient to meet domestic demand.
“For milk and rice, with SSRs of 66.7% and 52.9% respectively, we are at a moderate sufficiency level and will continue to intensify efforts to increase production,” he said.
However, Fadillah stressed that current achievements were no guarantee of future security.
“We need comprehensive, long-term policies. Today’s success does not assure tomorrow’s resilience,” he said.
He said the DKMN 2030 serves as the main compass guiding the transformation of the agri-food sector to ensure sufficient supply, food safety for all Malaysians, and long-term environmental sustainability.
“This policy is not merely a document on paper; it is an action plan that will shape the survival of future generations,” he said.
Through the policy, he said, the government’s focus extends beyond efficiency and productivity to strengthening value chains, adopting high technology and positioning the agri-food sector as a pillar of economic growth.
“This is our ongoing commitment to building a healthier, more active and prosperous nation through quality nutrition,” he said.
Fadillah also said food waste must be addressed through more efficient supply management and responsible consumer behaviour.
“To achieve these goals, we must transition from traditional practices to smart agriculture. Digitalisation and modernisation are key to attracting young people back into the sector,” he added.
Later, at a press conference, Mohamad said the issue of pig farming should be viewed through the lens of food production and environmental pollution, not race.
“This has nothing to do with race. It concerns food and pollution issues. We need the cooperation of state governments to resolve this matter,” he said, responding to questions on pig farming in Selangor.
