KUALA LUMPUR: The National Food Security Act is being drafted to establish a strong legal foundation to ensure the nation’s food security, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
He said that enshrining such a commitment in the Federal Constitution is the government’s way to ensure no one goes hungry in the country, while emphasising that food security is not solely the responsibility of the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry, but a task jointly shared by the government and society.
Fadillah, who is also the Energy Transition and Water Transformation (Petra) Minister, said this in his speech during the launch of the National Food Security Policy 2030 (DKMN 2030) and the National Food Security Policy Action Plan 2026-2030 here yesterday.
Also present was Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu.
In his speech, Fadillah said there is extraordinary uncertainty arising from extreme climate change to geopolitical conflicts that disrupt global supply chains.
“In 2022, the Global Food Security Index (GFSI) reported an average global score of 62.2 out of 100, a slight decline from 62.6 in the previous year. This decline reflects ongoing challenges across multiple key 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, not just a minor disruption – shaking the stability of the global food supply chain,” said Fadillah, who listed extreme climate change, pest and disease threats, geopolitical tensions and land use change as the key factors disrupting the food supply chain.
“We are facing intense competition between the needs of industrial development and the preservation of agricultural land.
“As a result, we are now facing surging logistics costs and sharp increases in the prices of imported agricultural inputs, particularly grain corn and chemical fertilisers.”
He further cautioned that Malaysia should not be complacent although the country still enjoys a stable level of food security.
“We are very strong in poultry and egg production. In 2024, the self-sufficiency ratio (SSR) for chicken reached 92.9%, while eggs reached 107%. The SSR for fruits is high at 96.8%, and tropical vegetables at 83.1%,” he said.
However, regarding milk and rice, Malaysia is at a moderate sufficiency level, with milk at 66.7% and rice at 52.9%.
“However, the government must not become complacent. Today’s achievements are no guarantee for tomorrow,” said Fadillah, adding that DKMN 2030 serves as the main compass in driving the transformation of the agri-food sector for long-term resilience.
“This policy is not merely a document on paper; it is an action plan that will shape the survival of future generations.
“Through the DKMN, our focus goes beyond efficiency and productivity alone, but one that extends across multiple dimensions of food security.
“By strengthening value chains and adopting high technology, this sector will become a pillar of economic strength that generates prosperity for all Malaysians,” he said.
Fadillah also said food waste must be addressed through efficient supply management and prudent consumer behaviour.
“To achieve these goals, we must transition from traditional methods to Smart Agriculture. Digitalisation and modernisation are key to attracting youth back into the sector,” he said.
Meanwhile, at a media conference later, Mohamad said pig farming is an issue that has to do with food and pollution, and is not about ethnicity.
“We need the cooperation of state governments to settle this problem,” he said in response to questions on the recent controversy surrounding pig farming in Selangor.
