Malaysia is stepping up efforts to strengthen regional food security cooperation within ASEAN, as global uncertainties linked to the West Asia crisis continue to pose risks to supply chains and agricultural inputs.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Datuk Chan Foong Hin represented Malaysia at a Special Meeting of ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF), held virtually on April 29, to discuss recent developments in West Asia and their implications on regional food security.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security said Malaysia’s participation reflects its continued commitment to enhancing ASEAN’s resilience in food supply, particularly amid growing volatility that could impact agriculture, trade and essential food inputs.
During the meeting, Malaysia supported stronger regional collaboration in technical cooperation, capacity building and investment to develop sustainable, inclusive and climate-resilient agricultural systems.
The ministry stressed that closer cross-sector coordination within ASEAN is critical in addressing interconnected challenges, including energy security, fertiliser supply, logistics disruptions and overall food availability. The ASEAN Secretariat has been identified as a central coordinating body to engage stakeholders, dialogue partners and relevant working groups.
At the domestic level, Malaysia also shared its preparedness measures in managing external risks, including activating crisis management mechanisms, holding weekly inter-ministerial monitoring meetings and coordinating efforts led by the Prime Minister’s Office to ensure food supply stability and contain inflationary pressures.
