The measures, said the minister, are the Malaysian Family Community Garden programme, Fresh Frozen Fish or Q-Fish Stockpile programme as well as setting up additional abattoirs and processing plants overseas.

“Some 1,350 recipients, comprising community members, entrepreneurs and cooperatives involved in the community garden, are expected to benefit from a RM30 million allocation for the 2022 Community Garden programme.

“The Q-Fish programme to cover fish supply shortages during the rainy and monsoon seasons involves (keeping) a stockpile of 1,000 metric tonnes with an allocation of RM7 million.”

Kiandee said for the programme, 135 fishermen’s markets and 103 Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM) outlets would be utilised as marketing channels, with storage facilities to be established in 222 parliamentary constituencies, involving an allocation of RM2.7 million.

He said the additional abattoirs and overseas processing plants were aimed at increasing and diversifying the import sources of poultry and meat supplies.

“For the supply of chicken, 18 new processing plants have been proposed in eight countries while for beef, buffalo meat, and mutton supplies, there will be 94 new ruminant abattoirs,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said a total of 2,487 applications for subsidy claims totalling RM178.16 million have been approved by MAFI.

This follows the government’s decision to approve the disbursement of subsidies at the rate of RM0.60 per kg from Feb 5 until March 30 and RM1.40 per kg for the period of April 1 until June 30.

Kiandee said today’s Cabinet meeting also noted that there was sufficient supply of food, as informed by MAFI, and the supply of chicken had also improved in the first and second week of June.

He said the technical committee to tackle food security issues would continue to meet weekly to refine measures and interventions to address the national food supply issues.