El Niño puts Malaysia’s food supply at risk, Cabinet needs regular updates, says minister

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof has advised the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to prepare Cabinet Memoranda to update the Cabinet on the current food security situation amid the El Niño phenomenon.

Highlighting food security as a national concern due to climate change and geopolitical uncertainty, he emphasized the need for swift, decisive actions.

The government is implementing measures such as integrated water resource management and advanced irrigation systems to ensure sustainable water usage and mitigate potential disruptions in food production and supply.

Additionally, efforts include promoting Controlled Environment Agriculture and timely completion of water infrastructure projects.

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 — The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) has been advised to prepare Cabinet Memoranda to keep the Cabinet informed of the current food security situation until the El Niño phenomenon concludes.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said this measure is crucial due to the threats posed by climate change and weather disruptions, which could impact the nation's food production and supply.

“The food security agenda is no longer merely an agricultural sector issue, it has become a matter of national security. The uncertain global geopolitical landscape, extreme climate change phenomena, and global supply chain volatility compel us to act more swiftly, decisively, and holistically,” he said in a Facebook post today.

Fadillah noted that this matter was discussed while he chaired the Meeting of the Executive Committee on National Food Security Policy (No. 2 of 2026) at the Parliament and Administration Building this morning.

Fadillah, who is also the Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, said that El Niño and climate change could disrupt the food supply chain through adverse weather, thereby reducing production and triggering local supply shortages.

In this regard, he said the government is implementing several preparatory measures, including integrated water resource management, to ensure sustainable water usage across various sectors.

“The government is also expanding the use of Smart Irrigation Monitoring Systems and Drip Irrigation Systems (TITIS) to prevent wastage and channel water according to the land's actual needs,” he said.

He stated that alternative and sustainable water management methods are being applied to rice production systems to optimise water-use efficiency at farm-level, alongside the promotion of Controlled Environment Agriculture, which includes the use of closed-house poultry farming systems.

Fadillah also urged all agencies involved in water infrastructure construction to ensure that every project is completed on schedule or ahead of schedule to prevent delays and avoid projects being classified as “sick” (stalled or problematic) projects. — Bernama

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副首相拿督斯里法迪拉·尤索夫建议农业及粮食安全部准备内阁备忘录，向内阁汇报厄尔尼诺现象下的当前粮食安全状况。

他强调，由于气候变化和地缘政治的不确定性，粮食安全已成为国家关注的问题，因此需要迅速采取果断行动。

政府正在实施综合水资源管理和先进灌溉系统等措施，以确保可持续用水，并减轻粮食生产和供应可能受到的干扰。

此外，相关工作还包括推广可控环境农业和及时完成水利基础设施项目。

吉隆坡，10月6日讯——农业及粮食安全部（KPKM）已接到指示，准备内阁备忘录，以便在厄尔尼诺现象结束之前，让内阁了解当前的粮食安全状况。

副首相拿督斯里法迪拉·尤索夫表示，由于气候变化和天气紊乱带来的威胁可能会影响国家的粮食生产和供应，因此这项措施至关重要。

“粮食安全问题不再仅仅是农业部门的问题，它已经成为国家安全问题。不确定的全球地缘政治格局、极端气候变化现象以及全球供应链的波动迫使我们采取更迅速、更果断、更全面的行动，”他今天在Facebook上发帖说。

法迪拉指出，今天上午他在议会和行政大楼主持召开国家粮食安全政策执行委员会会议（2026 年第 2 次会议）时讨论了此事。

法迪拉同时也是能源转型和水资源转型部长，他表示，厄尔尼诺现象和气候变化可能会通过恶劣天气扰乱食品供应链，从而减少产量并引发当地供应短缺。

在这方面，他表示政府正在实施多项准备措施，包括综合水资源管理，以确保各部门可持续用水。

“政府也在扩大智能灌溉监测系统和滴灌系统（TITIS）的使用，以防止浪费，并根据土地的实际需要引导水资源，”他说。

他表示，正在水稻生产系统中应用替代性和可持续的水资源管理方法，以优化农场层面的用水效率，同时推广可控环境农业，其中包括使用封闭式家禽养殖系统。

法迪拉还敦促所有参与供水基础设施建设的机构确保每个项目都能按时或提前完工，以防止延误，避免项目被列为“病态”（停滞或问题）项目。——马新社

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