Defence Ministry plans to lease idle land for farming to help in nation’s food supply

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Hishammuddin having a light moment with director of Strategic Planning and Policy (J5) US Pacific Command, Maj Gen Steven Rudder after delivering his special address.  Also present is chairman of Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia, Tan Sri Rastam Mohd Isa (centre). — Bernama photo

Hishammuddin having a light moment with director of Strategic Planning and Policy (J5) US Pacific Command, Maj Gen Steven Rudder after delivering his special address. Also present is chairman of Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia, Tan Sri Rastam Mohd Isa (centre). — Bernama photo

KUALA LUMPUR: The Defence Ministry plans to lease its idle land for farming to help meet the nation’s food supply, said its minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.

He said the ministry will work with the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry as well as plantation companies in ensuring stability in the nation’s food supply since food insecurity can be a threat and multiplier for violent conflict.

“Thus, the ministry officials have been asked to identify the ministry’s idle and unutilised land to be leased out to interested parties for crop cultivation such as rice, maize and others,” he told reporters after addressing the 30th Asia Pacific Rountable, here, yesterday.

Hishammuddin said with drought and floods, climate changes, food insecurity had became a security and defence matter.

“As farming is not an experties of Mindef, inclusive cooperation possibly with the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry and plantation companies is being considered,” he said.

Earlier, in his speech, apart from stressing on the topic of food insecurity, Hishammuddin said the ministry was also looking very seriously on the protection of the nation’s cyber defence.

Hishammuddin said most critical national infrastructure (CNI) depended on Information Technology (IT), and that with increasing reliance on IT systems, there was an even greater need for cooperation and convergence between the roles of physical security and cyber security.

He added that cooperation between nations was needed to totally counter cyber threats.

Hishammuddin also touched on terrorism, maritime security especially on South China Sea disputes and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

On South China Sea, he said Malaysia remains convinced that the Code of Conduct (CoC) is the best way to govern the competing claims to the waters and urged that consultations be intensified.

“We call upon all countries to ensure that diplomacy prevails and that differences are resolved peacefully via multilateral platforms such as Asean,” he added. — Bernama