Malaysia Pulse delivers breaking news, politics, business, sports and lifestyle coverage from Malaysia and Southeast Asia — trusted, timely and independent.
More than 100 British organisations have called on Prime Minister Andy Burnham to elevate food security to the same strategic importance as defence and energy, warning that another major disruption is inevitable.
Malaysia's Farmers' Organisation Authority is upgrading 90 agricultural outlets nationwide to compete with commercial retailers, with 30 already modernised and another 30 targeted for completion.
Malaysia's Agriculture Minister Mohamad Sabu met with EU-ASEAN Business Council leaders to advance agricultural modernisation, including AI adoption, dairy supply chains, and free trade negotiations.
Malaysia and Hungary are broadening agricultural cooperation through research collaboration, technology sharing, and Hungary's involvement in the upcoming MAHA 2026 exhibition, aimed at enhancing regional food security.
Malaysia's anti-corruption agency has arrested a former plantation manager accused of misappropriating approximately RM8 million in rubber seedling supply contracts in the Klang Valley, signalling increased scrutiny of procurement fraud in Malaysia's agricultural sector.
A 55-year-old man has been arrested in Tumpat following the seizure of 52 durian saplings suspected of being smuggled across the Thai-Malaysian border, highlighting ongoing agricultural contraband concerns.
Vietnam has detained its deputy agriculture minister and three other officials in connection with a widening corruption investigation centred on durian exports to China, the country's largest agricultural market.
MAHA Pahang 2026 drew 212,374 visitors across four days at Dataran Raub, more than doubling its 100,000-visitor target and generating RM2.33 million in sales—79% above projections.
The inaugural Road to MAHA Labuan 2026 has attracted 30,837 visitors in its opening two days, surpassing the 30,000-visitor target and generating almost RM800,000 in sales within the first 48 hours.
Malaysia has approved 144,894 smallholders for agricultural support as the Plantation and Commodities Ministry launches a nationwide outreach initiative to connect farmers with financial assistance and technical services.
Malaysia's agricultural TVET graduate employment has improved significantly to 76 per cent in 2024 from 61 per cent six years earlier, though the sector still trails the wider technical education benchmark of 95 per cent.
Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin's Dapur Komuniti initiative addresses agricultural oversupply in Terengganu by converting surplus produce into value-added products, providing training, and strengthening rural livelihoods through direct market access.
Malaysia is implementing comprehensive measures to shield its agro-food sector from El Niño effects, including smart irrigation systems, drought-resistant rice varieties, and financial aid for affected farmers.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has instructed government agencies to implement immediate safeguards protecting Malaysia's food supply from an intensifying El Niño phenomenon expected to disrupt agricultural output across the region.
Forty-seven participants of FELCRA Berhad's Seri Gala Area Village Rearrangement Programme received formal land ownership grants at a ceremony in Ipoh, underscoring the effectiveness of Malaysia's consolidation and rehabilitation approach to rural development.
Malaysia's rice buffer stock can sustain domestic demand for six months, Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah announced. The government has pledged to maintain Local White Rice prices unchanged despite global supply uncertainties, while allocating RM45.98 million in support to paddy farmers.
Authorities in Kelantan have apprehended two senior citizens accused of illegally importing various plant seedlings across the Thailand border through an unauthorised jetty in Tanah Merah.
Thailand and Malaysia have signed a memorandum of understanding to deepen agricultural cooperation, resolve shrimp and barramundi trade issues, and work towards a US$30 billion bilateral trade target, following talks between their prime ministers in Putrajaya.
Malaysia and Thailand have resolved outstanding fisheries disputes and agreed to implement a comprehensive agricultural cooperation memorandum within one week, during Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's first official visit to Malaysia.
Santorini's renowned wine producers are implementing experimental irrigation systems and cultivation techniques to survive intensifying drought and heat waves that have decimated vineyards and threatened the island's ancient winemaking heritage.
The MACC has arrested three individuals, including two company directors operating in the rice sector, over an alleged RM20 million trade financing scam involving fraudulent documentation.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has detained three people, including two rice industry directors, for their suspected involvement in a RM20 million fraudulent trade financing scheme involving forged paperwork.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim officially opened FELDA's 70th anniversary celebration in Jengka, Pahang, recognising the contributions of settlers who have driven the land development authority's rural transformation since 1956.
The Malaysian Palm Oil Board will construct a RM20-25 million research station in Sungai Rambai, Melaka, featuring a model plantation, R&D centre, and training facilities to strengthen the state's palm oil industry and create employment opportunities.
MARDI has successfully established approximately 25,000 MS88 hybrid durian trees spanning 242 hectares nationwide, primarily in Selangor and east coast states, with three additional premium varieties currently under evaluation.
Malaysia's Agricultural Research and Development Institute is developing local onion seed varieties expected to cut import spending by RM300 million and reach 30% self-sufficiency by 2030, marking a shift towards greater food security.