A Review on Food Security Policy on Agriculture and Food in Sabah, Malaysia

Abstract

Agriculture and food security are inextricably linked since agriculture is one of the sources of food security. The agriculture sector in Malaysia generates the most revenue for economic growth, apart from other sources, due to Malaysia’s vast areas of land and biodiversity. As such, the food security aims and objectives should be aligned with Malaysia’s agricultural policies, rules and regulations for economic growth and social development. This paper seeks to uncover Malaysia’s relevant and current agriculture and food security policies to identify meeting points to achieve food security goals and objectives in the future. This is also in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and in addition to maintaining the most fundamental human rights of the right to food. While there are many issues relating to agriculture, particularly concerning the advancement of science and technology, it is for the long-term benefits of food security for the population that local and indigenous people should embrace. This article adopts doctrinal method in analysing the policies by examining primary and secondary sources of laws and regulations and thus establishing common grounds for those two related areas of agriculture and food security. The findings show that while the Food Security Plan is still in the building up and perhaps future related-policies, the agriculture policies and rules and regulations should be further improved by taking an advantage of its available natural resources, only varies in line with the current commercial commodity agricultural trend, research and development. This is crucial not only to fulfil the sustainable development goals but also to improve Malaysian’s economy, standard of living, social development and their well-being. Thus, Malaysians will not go hungry due to its effective policies and rich biodiversity.