KUALA LUMPUR — The National Food Security Council has discussed high-impact measures to strengthen Malaysia’s food system, including alternative protein production, climate-related risks and unresolved agricultural trade issues with Thailand.
The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry said today the council’s first meeting of 2026, held yesterday, was chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and attended by representatives from various ministries and agencies.
The meeting was aimed at establishing a more comprehensive direction for national food security and recommending high-impact strategies to address issues affecting the agrofood sector.
Among the matters discussed were the feasibility and proposed direction for producing alternative protein sources in Malaysia, initiatives to strengthen the competitiveness of the domestic agricultural industry and strategies to enhance the Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia’s (LKIM) slipway services and operations.
The government also considered the implications of El Nino and climate change, particularly the risk of prolonged droughts that could threaten domestic food production.
The ministry said it had prepared various prevention, adaptation and protection strategies for agricultural operators in response to the risks.
The meeting also discussed solutions to several agricultural and fisheries trade issues involving Thailand.
They included Thailand’s restriction on Malaysian shrimp exports, which has been in place since 2017, and Malaysia’s restriction on Thai shrimp imports, which took effect on June 1, 2026.
Other matters included stricter inspections of Malaysian barramundi exports to Thailand and Malaysia’s application for market access for livestock products, which has remained pending since 2024.
The council was also briefed on the Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism Exhibition 2026, or MAHA 2026, which will be held at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) from Aug 28 to Sept 6.
Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said food security was a national priority that required collective commitment.
“Therefore, holistic strategic cooperation among all parties is crucial to ensuring the sustainability of the country’s food system and strengthening Malaysia’s resilience in facing evolving global challenges,” he said.
