Today's top Malaysian news, sport and lifestyle.
More than 100 UK organisations have written to new Prime Minister Andy Burnham, warning that another major food disruption is imminent and calling for food security to be elevated to the same strategic importance as national defence and energy policy.
Malaysia's Social Innovation Programme has lifted the livelihoods of more than 6,700 community members through 67 projects worth RM13.97 million, with aquaponics technology proving particularly effective in boosting food security and local economic growth.
Central Spectrum has distributed RM10,000 worth of Food Bank vouchers across four mosques in Pulau Indah, Klang, reaching hundreds of families in need as part of its community welfare strategy.
Malaysia's amended rice control law will focus enforcement on wholesalers, millers, and smugglers rather than paddy farmers, Deputy Minister Chan Foong Hin has assured, with graduated penalties for minor breaches.
The inaugural Road to MAHA Labuan 2026 has drawn 30,837 visitors and generated nearly RM800,000 in sales within its opening two days, surpassing organisers' expectations and demonstrating robust public engagement with agriculture and food security initiatives.
Agriculture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu has underscored the urgency of strengthening Malaysia's food security in light of escalating geopolitical tensions, climate volatility and global supply chain instability.
Malaysia's Ministry of Finance confirms that savings from the targeted RON95 petrol subsidy mechanism are being channelled into expanded social protection programmes, food security initiatives, and business transition support rather than retained as fiscal surplus.
Brunei's Foreign Minister Prince Abdul Mateen has urged ASEAN and regional partners to strengthen cooperation on food and energy security, warning that no country can tackle today's challenges alone.
Agricultural TVET graduate employment in Malaysia has climbed to 76% in 2024 from 61% six years earlier, according to a new government study. However, the sector continues to face ageing workforce challenges and uneven regional distribution of skilled graduates.
The Dunia Melayu Dunia Islam Foundation is rolling out a comprehensive food assistance scheme across Melaka, targeting 2,000 disadvantaged households through its Food Bank DMDI programme.
Malaysia's Agriculture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu says the government expects to announce the outcome of trade negotiations with Thailand by month-end, potentially resolving a shrimp export ban dating back to 2017.
Malaysia's Deputy Agriculture Minister has cautioned durian exporters against deviating from agreed phytosanitary protocols with China, emphasizing the need to protect market access worth RM868 million annually.
Malaysia is intensifying efforts to shield its agro-food sector from El Niño through advanced water management, drought-resistant crop varieties, and targeted farmer assistance programmes worth millions of ringgit.
Malaysia's government is actively negotiating with Thailand to resolve shrimp export restrictions that have persisted since 2017, while pursuing new market access for livestock products, Agriculture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu announced.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has directed the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to rapidly develop strategies to shield Malaysia's food output from the impending Super El Niño weather phenomenon expected to arrive this November.
Singapore and Malaysia have pledged to strengthen cooperation across food security, energy, and other strategic areas during President Tharman Shanmugaratnam's inaugural state visit to Malaysia.
Malaysia's targeted incentive programmes have substantially increased agricultural self-sufficiency, with beef production rising to 18.4% and dairy reaching 81.8% in 2025, signalling progress towards food security amid global challenges.
Indonesia's state logistics agency Bulog is negotiating rice export agreements with Malaysia and Singapore, with discussions covering 200,000 tonnes to Malaysia and 10,000 tonnes to Singapore following bilateral ministerial talks.
The Dewan Rakyat has passed the Control of Padi and Rice (Amendment) Bill 2026, imposing significantly higher penalties on rice industry offences. Fines for individuals rise to RM250,000 while companies face up to RM1 million in penalties, marking the first increase since 1994.
Malaysia's rice reserves can sustain domestic demand for six months, Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir announced. The government guarantees Local White Rice prices will not increase, while distributing RM45.98 million to support paddy farmers.
Parliament convenes today to address Malaysia's position on UN reform, government readiness for food shortages, and defence procurement vulnerabilities, with seven new bills also tabled.
Miri police conducted a raid on a warehouse and arrested a local man while seizing frozen pork products valued at RM6.19 million suspected of being imported illegally without valid authorisation.
Malaysia's Parliament advanced legislation on competition law and rice industry regulation during its third sitting week, while debating human rights, healthcare digitalisation and the 1MDB debt burden totalling RM51.4 billion.
Thailand and Malaysia have signed a memorandum of understanding to deepen agricultural cooperation, resolving longstanding market access disputes over shrimp and barramundi while targeting US$30 billion in bilateral trade.
Malaysia and Thailand have resolved outstanding fisheries disputes and agreed to implement an agricultural cooperation framework within one week, marking progress during Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's first official visit to Malaysia.
Malaysia has kept food prices stable despite Middle East disruptions by boosting agricultural subsidies and building emergency food reserves. The government increased diesel support for farmers and ploughing incentives while stockpiling essentials.
Malaysia's parliament has tabled an amendment bill to strengthen oversight of the padi and rice sector, granting regulators broader price-control authority and imposing penalties up to RM1 million for corporate violations.
The MACC has arrested three individuals, including two company directors operating in the rice sector, over allegations of submitting forged documentation to obtain approximately RM20 million in trade working capital financing.
A Johor oil palm smallholder has generated nearly RM126,000 in gross income from a RM15,000 government grant through an integrated duck farming project, producing over 94,000 eggs in less than three years.
Indonesia's drought crisis is spreading rapidly across multiple regions as El Niño conditions intensify, with authorities warning that prolonged dry weather could deepen water shortages and threaten national food security in coming months.
Malaysia aims to halve its food imports by 2050, targeting a 15% reduction by 2030 and 30% by 2040. Deputy PM Ahmad Zahid says the initiative will leverage idle government land for farming.
Malaysia's Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority has generated RM46.72 million through its Agro MADANI Sales programme in the first five months of the year, with events now expanding to Penang as part of efforts to boost local agricultural entrepreneurs.
Malaysia's research institute MARDI is developing local onion seed varieties to cut import dependence by RM300 million and reach 30 per cent self-sufficiency by 2030, addressing the country's current reliance on Indian onion supplies.
A suspected lightning strike ignited fires across multiple floating fish farms near Singapore's Pulau Ubin in June, destroying equipment and causing significant financial losses to local aquaculture operators.
Malaysia and Uzbekistan are strengthening agricultural cooperation by leveraging complementary strengths in smart farming, aquaculture, and food security technologies, with plans to expand agri-food trade significantly.