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The Star
a day ago
- Business
- The Star
More targeted policies needed to beef up national food security, says AFPN
Dependence on imports is for some foods including vegetables and fruits. Malaysia still needs to import food commodities such as vegetables and fruits from temperate climates, This is because these commodities are not economical to produce in Malaysia because the price will be higher than imports in addition to the country's unfavorable weather factors and it is affected by the demand of the local market. . — MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The Star KUALA LUMPUR: Policies that are more focused and responsive need to be formulated to strengthen national food security, in light of concerns over rising food prices and the country's high dependence on global supply chains. Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC) through the Agro-Food Productivity Nexus (AFPN) said currently, Malaysia still relied heavily on food imports, including in the poultry farming industry. "For example, the Self-Sufficiency Level (SSL) for chicken dropped to 90.2 per cent in 2023 compared to 100.2 per cent in 2021, indicating growing reliance on external sources. "Although chickens are farmed locally, the import dependency for animal feed remains high, making the sector vulnerable to global shocks and exchange rate fluctuations,' AFPN said in a statement issued by MPC on Tuesday (July 1). AFPN also said that although Malaysia recorded an improvement in the World Competitiveness Ranking (WCR) 2025, the agro-food sector's performance indicators, such as price competitiveness, productivity and innovation, remain slow and lacklustre. AFPN stressed the need for proactive and contextual policy reforms. These include facilitating the entry of new farmers, supporting the expansion of existing farmers through easier land access, restructuring approval processes, reducing bureaucratic red tape and accelerating digital technology adoption in the agro-food sector. MPC director-general Datuk Zahid Ismail was quoted in the statement as saying that Malaysia must remove systemic barriers, open up space for innovation and create an ecosystem that enables farmers to grow and contribute meaningfully to national productivity. "Food security is not just about supply; it is closely tied to resilience and long-term competitiveness. Digital adoption is a key driver of agro-food productivity, but connectivity must be prioritised first,' he said. On June 17, the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) announced that Malaysia has risen 11 places in the WCR 2025, moving to 23rd place out of 69 economies, its best ranking since 2020.- Bernama
The Star
22-06-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Maniam continues to shine as he receives honorary membership with WSF
Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) coaching director, Major (Rtd) speak to the media during the Ace Malaysia Squash Cup Launching in Partnership with SRAM in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.— MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The Star
The Star
19-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Helping disabled youths lead
Sia (front row, sixth from left) with members of Milad after receiving the donated items which will go to 42 OKU recipients. — MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The Star Applications open for training focused on assisting organisations with OKU staff, advising on special needs A TRAINING programme is available for youths with special needs to become leaders when it comes to dealing with people with disabilities (OKU). Malaysia Independent Living Association for Disabled (Milad) is calling for applicants aged 18 to 30 who are interested in becoming professional trainers. Milad will select 16 trainees, who must be registered with the Welfare Department, for the Disability Inclusion Leadership Training (DILT) programme. Programme head and Milad president Sia Siew Chi, who will be one of the trainers, said, 'We want the trained disabled individuals to become professional trainers who can assist organisations with OKU staff, as well as advise on the needs of people with disabilities. 'We welcome people with any type of disability, such as visual, hearing or physical impairments, to apply.' She said those with good public-speaking abilities would have an advantage. 'Applicants who are OKU cardholders from across Malaysia, passionate about disability rights and committed to becoming inclusion trainers, are encouraged to apply,' Sia said after receiving donations of medical supplies at Milad's centre in Petaling Jaya, Selangor. The 18-month programme starting in July is funded by Unicef, with technical support from the Disability Equality Training (DET) Forum, Asia-Pacific Development Centre on Disability, and Japan International Cooperation Agency. It is the first of its kind in Malaysia, designed exclusively for OKU to enable them to become professional trainers who meet the certification standards of Human Resources Development Corporation (HRD Corp). The programme will include a 14-day in-person DET workshop, weekly two-hour online mentorship, Independent Living Programme training, one-day practical facilitation experience and five-day Train-the-Trainer workshop for HRD Corp certification. Applications should include the person's name, background and contact information, and be sent to miladmalaysia@ by June 30. Details can be found at At the event, 42 persons with disabilities received donations of urinary bags and adult diapers worth RM5,826 from an anonymous donor. 'While 11 of them are able to collect the items from us, the rest will have their donated supplies delivered to their homes. 'The donor has been generous over the years, regularly sponsoring essential items for OKU. 'These items are costly and any sponsorship to fund them is greatly appreciated by the disabled community,' Sia said, adding that many of the recipients were bedridden.
The Star
14-06-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Bersatu's handover conundrum
Headwinds: Is Muhyiddin facing dissatisfaction in the ranks of his party? — MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The Star THE pressure within Perikatan Nasional for an action-oriented politician to lead the Opposition coalition is intensifying. While Perikatan Nasional chairman and Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has recently upped his game, the sentiment in the coalition and within his own party is that it is 'too little, too late'. Billed as RM9.73 for the 1st month then RM13.90 thereafters. RM12.33/month RM8.63/month Billed as RM103.60 for the 1st year then RM148 thereafters. Free Trial For new subscribers only
The Star
11-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Malaysia records approved investments of US$21bil in 1Q
Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.— MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The Star KUALA LUMPUR: Approved investments in Malaysia rose by 3.7% in the first quarter from a year earlier to RM89.8bil (US$21.2bil ), the Malaysian Investment Development Authority said on Wednesday. Foreign investments were RM60.4bil, or two-thirds of the total, and domestic investments accounted for RM29.4bil, the authority said in a statement. "The investment environment in 2025 is expected to remain challenging due to continued geopolitical and macroeconomic headwinds stemming from the U.S.-China trade war," Trade Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz said in the statement. Tengku Zafrul said that while protectionist policies and supply-chain frictions would affect corporate decision-making, he expected Malaysia to attract more investment, given that the broader Asian economy was increasing its share of global GDP. The top three sources of foreign investment in the quarter were Singapore with RM28.3bil, the United States at RM9.9bil and China at RM7.9bil. The services sector attracted RM57.8bil on the approved investments, the authority said. - Reuters
