Addressing food security in Malaysia

Did you know that two-thirds of chillies used in various Malaysian cuisines come from Thailand? And that rice, which is a staple in almost every Malaysian household, is reliant upon supply from Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan, and India?

While we are a rice-eating and producing country, what we produce is insufficient and only covers 70 per cent of what the nation uses. About 800,000 metric tonnes of rice is imported annually to ensure that there is enough rice for everyone in the country.

Malaysia imports 60 per cent of its food. This includes essentials like mutton, beef, fresh milk, cabbage, mangoes, and chicken, in recent years. That’s more than half of our needs.