He said following a meeting between menteris besar, chief ministers and Cabinet members, food security committees would be formed at both the state and district levels to implement the National Food Security Policy Action Plan 2021-2025.

“This (allocation of more land) will be done by gazetting agricultural land as reserved land under Section 63 of the National Land Code, and subsequently leasing such land for 10 to 21 years,” he said in a statement.

Ismail added that land would also be alienated to state government subsidiaries involved in agriculture, which would then be leased to farmers for a period of 30 years.

State authorities would also be empowered to approve temporary occupational licences (TOL) of at least three years with subsequent renewals.

Besides that, the zoning of padi fields would be maintained and permanent food production parks would be gazetted and developed.

Existing aquaculture industry zones would also be maintained and new ones gazetted.

Ismail added that the process of obtaining planning permission for the development of closed-house poultry farms and other agrofood activities would be simplified.

District-level agricultural land development committees would also be formed for the development of private agricultural land.

Lower water abstraction charges for fresh water and salt water would also be set.

Standardised communication infrastructure fees

The meeting also agreed to the formation of special state committees to study and recommend mechanisms for the standardisation of fees and charges imposed for the development of communication infrastructure across the nation.

Ismail said the standardisation of such fees and charges would encourage service providers to increase their investments in communication infrastructure in both rural and urban areas.