Malaysia must continue strengthening its domestic paddy and rice production to protect the country’s food security in the event of disruptions to global supplies, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said.
He said the current geopolitical situation showed that unexpected disruptions could occur at any time, including problems affecting international trade routes and maritime transport. Such developments could potentially disrupt imported rice supplies or drive up prices.
“We are fortunate at the moment because the rice we import is relatively cheap. But we cannot depend on this situation forever.
“With the geopolitical situation we are facing today, anything can happen. If maritime transportation routes are disrupted, for example, we could face problems,” he said.
Mohamad was speaking to reporters after launching Laman Padi in conjunction with the Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism Exhibition (MAHA) 2026 at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) today.
He said the Government would continue strengthening the country’s paddy and rice ecosystem by increasing productivity, improving the supply chain and expanding the use of technology and innovation across the sector.
Efforts are also being made to bring abandoned paddy fields back into production while upgrading existing agricultural areas to boost domestic output. Mohamad stressed that increasing paddy production must remain a continuous priority as it directly affects Malaysia’s food security.
“We must never stop looking for ways to strengthen paddy production because this is a matter of food security.
“Abandoned areas need to be reopened, and the Government will provide as much assistance as possible to develop new production areas,” he said.
Among the areas currently being developed is Pekan in Pahang, while efforts are also under way in Selangor to revive neglected areas and upgrade existing paddy fields in collaboration with the Selangor Agricultural Development Corporation.
Mohamad also highlighted the importance of adopting technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) to improve productivity in the paddy sector.
He said changes in attitude and greater willingness among industry players and the public to embrace new technologies would be crucial if Malaysia’s agricultural modernisation efforts were to achieve their intended goals.
Meanwhile, in conjunction with the 69th National Day celebrations, Mohamad said food security should remain one of the key foundations of an independent nation.
He said Malaysia’s goal should go beyond ensuring adequate food supplies, with greater emphasis also placed on raising productivity, strengthening supply chains, expanding technology adoption, encouraging innovation and creating more opportunities for value creation throughout the agricultural industry.
