THE MADANI Government is set to review urgent measures to safeguard its food security as the government prepares for the economic fallout from escalating conflict in West Asia, with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim scheduled to chair a National Economic Action Council meeting on Wednesday.
The high-level session is expected to focus on strategies to mitigate the knock-on effects of geopolitical tensions, particularly disruptions to global energy supplies that are already driving up costs across the agricultural sector.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Chan Foong Hin said industry players, especially in fisheries and crop production, are under mounting strain and are looking to the meeting for concrete relief measures.
He warned that the crisis in West Asia has evolved into a global economic challenge, with rising oil prices and supply chain instability placing direct pressure on Asian economies.
“The disruption in the Strait of Hormuz is a clear indication that stability of the world’s fuel supply can no longer be taken for granted. Its implications are also felt in the food supply chain, which ultimately affects people’s cost of living.
“Although our country is still resilient towards this global crisis, we cannot be complacent. The government remains committed to being prepared by taking proactive measures to face any eventuality, including the worst-case scenario,” he said in a social media post.
On Tuesday, Chan had attended a briefing on policy proposals to be presented at the council meeting, alongside Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu.
The discussions centred on the current state of Malaysia’s food supply and the steps required to strengthen national resilience against external shocks.
The meeting comes amid growing concern that prolonged instability in key oil transit routes could exacerbate food inflation and disrupt essential imports, underscoring the urgency of coordinated economic planning. - March 31, 2026
