New landmark Food Security Bill to shield nation from future supply crises

THE Government is preparing to introduce its first National Food Security Act in Parliament next year, in a significant legislative move aimed at safeguarding the nation's food supply against mounting threats from climate change, extreme weather events and global supply chain disruptions.

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Datuk Mohamad Sabu said the proposed legislation is currently being finalised before it is submitted for parliamentary approval, with food security policy being coordinated at the highest level under the Deputy Prime Minister II.

The Cabinet Committee on National Food Security Policy (and its Executive Committee) is chaired by Deputy Prime Minister II Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, who works closely alongside the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security.

"We are currently drafting the Act, and matters relating to food security are being chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister II.

"God willing, this Act will be tabled in Parliament next year," he told reporters after launching the Road to the Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism Exhibition (MAHA) 2026 programme at the Pandamaran Complex on Saturday.

The legislation is expected to establish a comprehensive national framework to reinforce food supply resilience, including an early warning system, automatic emergency preparedness plans and more effective mechanisms for channelling assistance to the country's food production sector during times of crisis.

The move comes amid growing concerns over the increasing frequency of climate-related disruptions, particularly the impact of the El Niño phenomenon, which has prompted calls for urgent legislative measures to safeguard domestic food production and strengthen long-term national food security.

Separately, Mohamad Sabu said MAHA 2026 is set to become the exhibition's most internationally diverse edition, with participation expected from Brazil, China, the United States, Japan, South Korea, Hungary and China's Guangxi region, while Uzbekistan and several other countries are expected to confirm their attendance.

"God willing, MAHA will be a success, with international participation increasing significantly this year. Uzbekistan has indicated that it will attend, together with several other countries that are still awaiting confirmation.

"This is the first time there has been such extensive international participation because, as I mentioned earlier, food security is closely interconnected. Sometimes when one country experiences a disaster, other countries will come forward to help," he said.

Mohamad said the expanded international presence at MAHA 2026 reflects growing recognition that food security has become a shared global responsibility, requiring stronger cross-border cooperation to ensure stable food supplies in the face of increasingly unpredictable environmental and economic challenges. - June 20, 2026