12/05/2025

MONDAY | MAY 12, 2025

2 King, Queen extend Mother’s Day greetings

KUALA LUMPUR: His Majesty the King of Malaysia Sultan Ibrahim and Her Majesty Queen Raja Zarith Sofiah conveyed their heartfelt Mother’s Day greetings to all women who bear the title of “mother”. Their Majesties extended their greetings through a post on the Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar Facebook page on Saturday. The King also conveyed a special

and civilised society.” Anwar extended warm wishes to all mothers, recognising them as the cornerstone of families and communities built on honour, excellence and humanity. “Happy Mother’s Day to all the incredible women whose strength and care give rise to a noble, distinguished and harmonious society.” – Bernama

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said mothers are not just the queens of their households, but the very pillars who shape and nurture the next generation – one grounded in strong values, knowledge and compassion. “Their unwavering devotion, sacrifices and boundless love form the foundation of families and by extension, a dignified, progressive

Sultan Ibrahim added that he is deeply grateful to Allah for blessing him with a loving wife who has shown immense care and dedication in raising their children. His Majesty also offered prayers for his late mother, Enche’ Besar Hajah Khalsom Abdullah and the late Raja Perempuan Muzwin. Mother’s Day is observed on the second Sunday of May every year.

Mother’s Day wish to the Queen in the same post. Sultan Ibrahim said appreciating a mother’s sacrifices should not be limited to a specific day or occasion as her role is highly honoured in Islam. “The Quran and the sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) emphasise the importance of honouring one’s mother, as paradise lies beneath her feet.”

Ministry strengthening nation’s food security

PM makes courtesy call on Sabah governor KOTA KINABALU: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim made a courtesy call yesterday on Sabah Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Musa Aman at Istana Seri Kinabalu. Anwar arrived at the palace at around 11am, shortly after the special aircraft carrying him landed at Terminal Two of Kota Kinabalu International Airport at 10.35am to begin a one day working visit to the state. He signed the guest book before holding a four-eyed meeting with Musa in the Special Visitors’ Hall. This was Anwar’s first courtesy call on Musa since his appointment as the new Sabah Governor in January. The half-hour meeting concluded with a luncheon in the palace’s dining hall. After the meeting at Istana Seri Kinabalu, Anwar proceeded to Tawau to officiate the closing ceremony of the Sabah Madani Rakyat programme 2025 at Dataran Majlis Perbandaran Tawau. He is also scheduled to hand over the completed Tamu Desa Sabah project. – Bernama “It is imperative for all Malaysians to work together to realise the national vision of being among the world’s top 25 countries by 2033.” He reminded civil servants to protect the nation’s image, particularly when dealing with matters of national sensitivity, such as the flag or other issues that touch on race, religion and royalty. – Bernama Civil servants told to uphold professionalism TAWAU: Civil servants must champion professionalism and play a strategic role as ambassadors of excellence, particularly as the nation takes centre stage as Asean chair this year, said Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar. He said Malaysia’s leadership of Asean would highlight the capabilities and strong commitment of its civil service in delivering its responsibilities. “Let us unite in elevating the nation’s standing through efficient governance, effective communication and public service delivery that reflects the values of Madani.” He was speaking at the Madani Rakyat: Bersama-sama Ketua Setiausaha Negara programme yesterday. Shamsul Azri advised civil servants not to be merely reactive, but to take a proactive approach in formulating more resilient policies, strengthening trade strategies and accelerating efforts to diversify the economy. He said this is crucial in ensuring Malaysia’s long-term economic resilience and safeguarding the well-being of its people against the uncertainties of global policies. He added that every civil servant must uphold integrity, exercise a high level of accountability and resist any form of abuse of power. “According to the Corruption Perceptions Index published by Transparency International in 2024, Malaysia ranks second in Asean after Singapore, with a score of 50.

o ‘Bulk of domestic demand for poultry, fish met via local production but country reliant on imported staples like rice, beef and certain vegetables’

population of 40 to 42 million by 2050, several forward-looking strategies must be adopted. “These include embracing smart agriculture and precision farming across crops, livestock and fisheries, and promoting sustainable approaches such as regenerative agriculture and the circular economy.” The ministry called on state governments to allocate land for agriculture while the federal government is focusing on providing funding, support and policy direction to reduce imports and increase local production. It added that expanding vertical and urban farming would help maximise yields in limited spaces, and innovation in aquaculture could ensure sustainable protein sources. “Investing in youth, women and tech-savvy agropreneurs is just as vital, along with establishing strategic food reserves and building a robust agrofood database to enable data-driven policymaking. “To enhance self-sufficiency and reduce import dependence, Malaysia must modernise farming with smart technology, advance crop and livestock research, expand agroparks and contract farming, encourage youth participation as well as seek alternative animal feed to reduce reliance on imported grain.” The National Agrofood Policy 2.0 and the National Food Security Policy Action Plan (2021–2025) provide a comprehensive framework focused on improving productivity, climate resilience, supply chain efficiency and farmer livelihoods.

Ű BY QIRANA NABILLA MOHD RASHIDI newsdesk@thesundaily.com

goal is to raise this to 80% by 2030 under the National Agrofood Policy 2.0. “Vegetables have a lower SSR of 45.4%, though local needs are substantially met through crops like kangkung , sawi and okra. However, temperate vegetables such as broccoli, carrots and cauliflower are import-dependent due to climatic and cost-related constraints. “In the meat sector, poultry leads with an SSR ratio of 90.2% but beef and mutton lag behind significantly at 15.9% and 10.6%, respectively, while dairy products are at 66.8%.” The ministry said initiatives are in progress to improve these figures with support from both government funding and private investments. It said Malaysia’s vulnerability to global disruptions is relatively low but the country remains dependent on imported inputs such as fertilisers, feed and seeds for certain commodities. It added that the country is currently increasing local production of shallots and maize. “To future-proof Malaysia’s food supply system and prepare for an estimated

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s food security remains relatively robust but rising costs, climate risks and dependence on imports continue to test the country’s food resilience, said the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry. A ministry spokesman told theSun that while over 90% of domestic demand for poultry and fish is met through local production, the country remains significantly reliant on imported staples, particularly rice, beef and certain vegetables. “The ministry is intensifying efforts to strengthen Malaysia’s food system through infrastructure improvements, technology adoption and coordinated policy measures.” According to the 2023 Global Food Security Index, Malaysia ranks 41st out of 113 countries – behind regional leaders like Singapore and Japan. The ministry cited limited agricultural land and high reliance on imported staples as key vulnerabilities. “For rice, the self-sufficiency ratio (SSR) stands at 56.2%, meaning that just over half of the national requirement is met locally. The

MARKING A MILESTONE ... Deputy Prime Minister and Umno president Hamidi as well as Foreign Minister and deputy party president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan mingling with members Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid

during the party’s 79th anniversary in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC