PUTRAJAYA, MALAYSIA Oct 22, 2025 – Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim chaired a high-level Cabinet Committee meeting on Thursday, unveiling ambitious strategies to turbocharge Malaysia’s agriculture sector amid mounting global food pressures. The discussions, centered on the National Food Security Policy, emphasized a holistic overhaul to make farming more sustainable, resilient, and tech-savvy—key pillars of the freshly launched 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK-13).
In a statement released post-meeting, Anwar highlighted the urgent need for innovative reforms to fortify the nation’s agrifood backbone. “Seiring dengan pelaksanaan Rancangan Malaysia Ke-13 (RMK-13), sektor pertanian perlu diperkukuh melalui pendekatan baharu yang lebih mampan, berdaya tahan dan berorientasikan teknologi,” he said, underscoring how these shifts align with broader economic goals under the five-year blueprint.
At the heart of the agenda is a revamped policy framework, now in final tweaks, designed as a forward-looking shield against escalating challenges like climate volatility and supply chain disruptions. Anwar described it as an “integrated, mission-driven, and evidence-based” blueprint, zeroing in on high-efficiency crop and livestock production, eco-friendly agrifood ecosystems, regional food diplomacy to bolster ASEAN ties, promotion of balanced nutrition, and inclusive growth that leaves no farmer behind.
To lock in these gains, the government plans to back the policy with tailored legislation, aiming to streamline coordination across ministries and agencies. “Dasar ini turut akan diperkukuh dengan perundangan khusus bagi menyelaras dan menyeragamkan pelaksanaan dasar serta tindakan antara pelbagai agensi dan kementerian yang terlibat,” Anwar noted. This legislative push, he added, will beef up governance and ensure seamless rollout, turning policy into tangible progress for rural communities and urban tables alike.
The moves come as Malaysia grapples with post-pandemic vulnerabilities, where food import reliance hovers at 30% for staples like rice and palm oil. Experts hail the tech focus—think AI-driven precision farming and blockchain for supply tracking—as a game-changer, potentially slashing waste by 20% and boosting yields in key states like Perak and Sabah. Yet challenges loom: Smallholders, who dominate 80% of the sector, will need subsidies and training to adopt digital tools without widening inequality.
Anwar’s vision positions food security not just as survival, but as a driver of “pertumbuhan ekonomi yg terangkum”—inclusive prosperity. With RMK-13’s RM400 billion war chest allocating 10% to agriculture, stakeholders eye quick wins like expanded hydroponics hubs and cross-border pacts with Indonesia and Thailand. For now, the PM’s call to action signals a greener, hungrier-for-innovation harvest ahead.
