MANILA: Essential food supplies and agricultural inputs must be kept moving across Asean borders even in times of crisis, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, as the region seeks to protect its people from disruptions that could threaten food security.
The Prime Minister called for the establishment of trusted green lanes to ensure that food and agricultural essentials continue to flow between member states when global supply chains are disrupted.
The proposal, raised during his intervention at the plenary session of the 49th Asean Summit here on Sunday (Nov 15), forms part of Malaysia's push for greater regional self-reliance, particularly in food production and healthcare.
Anwar said recent global shocks had exposed the risks of depending too heavily on a limited number of external suppliers, making it imperative for Asean to strengthen trade and production networks within the region.
"Nowhere is this more urgent than in food and medicines, the essentials our people cannot do without," he said.
He said strengthening regional food security must begin with agricultural inputs such as fertilisers, seeds and animal feed, much of which Asean continues to source from outside the region.
"Asean must strengthen resilience across this whole chain: trading more of these inputs among ourselves, keeping essential food and agricultural inputs flowing through trusted green lanes in times of crisis," he said.
He also called for better coordination of regional food reserves, including the Asean Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve, to help member states respond collectively to supply disruptions.
Beyond food security, Anwar warned that the lessons of the Covid-19 pandemic must not be forgotten, particularly as climate change and environmental degradation heighten the threat of future health emergencies.
"We must not be complacent - climate change and environmental degradation make the looming risk of a future pandemic a statistical probability," he said.
To prepare for such risks, he urged Asean to improve access to essential medicines through mutual recognition of regulatory approvals, pooled purchasing arrangements and coordinated stockpiles.
He also called for stronger regional manufacturing capabilities for essential medicines and vaccines to reduce dependence on external supply chains.
On energy security, Anwar identified the Asean Power Grid (APG) as the region's foremost strategic priority, particularly with energy demand projected to quadruple by 2060.
"With regional energy demand projected to quadruple by 2060, our national grids cannot stand isolated," he said.
He said accelerating the APG would enable greater cross-border renewable energy sharing while strengthening the region's collective ability to provide affordable and secure energy supplies.
"Accelerating the APG turns individual vulnerabilities into collective strength, unlocking cross-border renewable power sharing and guaranteeing an affordable, secure energy future for our people," he said.
