KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia can become a global food producer by emulating its success in the palm oil and rubber industries, according to the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (MIER).
Its chairman, Tan Sri Mohd Effendi Norwawi, said the country should start viewing agriculture and food security as a strategic growth sector rather than a recurring policy issue.
"Agriculture and food security have always been on the agenda, even from the 1970s, but it is time for the government to examine it more closely, reprioritise the sector, and elevate it to a top national priority," he said after the MIER Brown Bag Talk Series -- "A Journey Through the Looking Glass: Towards Future-Proofing Malaysia's Food Security" -- here today.
Mohd Effendi, a former minister of agriculture and food security, said Malaysia's food import bill, supply vulnerabilities, and global disruptions such as war, pandemics, and climate change highlight the urgent need for a new approach.
"We have achieved success in palm oil and rubber, and we can apply this model to food production, particularly by utilising modern technology and the extensive knowledge we possess," he said, citing institutions like the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) and the country's network of agriculture professionals.
Mohd Effendi highlighted that beyond agriculture, other emerging areas such as artificial intelligence (AI) and sustainability should be central to the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP).
"AI is an area we must move forward with. Malaysia is still at the starting line, so we have an opportunity to jump-start our progress.
"We can move quickly into areas like AI and sustainability, where we already have national experts and can bring in international ones to help shape strong policies and strategies," he said.
The talk featured presentations by MIER senior fellows Dr Larry Chee-Yoong Wong and Khairuddin Md Tahir, who advocated for a systemic shift in how Malaysia addresses food security.
The event is part of MIER's ongoing Brown Bag Talk Series aimed at fostering policy dialogue on key national issues.
