Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has directed the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) to immediately roll out mitigation measures ahead of the Super El Niño phenomenon, which is forecast to hit Malaysia from November.
Anwar said swift action is crucial to minimise the impact of the extreme weather event on the country’s food production while ensuring farmers and agricultural communities continue to receive the support they need.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, the Prime Minister said the issue was among the key matters discussed during the first National Food Security Council meeting of 2026, which he chaired.
He also revealed that the meeting focused on strengthening fisheries cooperation with the Thai government. Anwar instructed KPKM to finalise the matter as soon as possible through the appropriate channels, while maintaining strict food safety and quality standards.
The Prime Minister stressed that continuous engagement with fishing communities must also be carried out to help ensure their products meet the required standards and remain competitive in the market.
Beyond tackling the looming weather threat, the council reviewed strategies to enhance the competitiveness of Malaysia’s agri-food sector to strengthen national food security and improve the livelihoods of farmers, paddy growers, livestock breeders and fishermen.
Anwar reaffirmed the government’s commitment to modernising the agri-food industry through greater adoption of technology, innovation and best practices, saying these efforts are vital to keeping local producers competitive while safeguarding the nation’s food supply for the benefit of all Malaysians.
