Affordability of “Half and Half” Not Linked to Local Food Supply Issues: Agriculture Minister

The affordability of the healthy plate model “Suku-Suku Separuh” in Malaysia is not an accurate reflection of local food supply challenges, according to Agriculture and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu. Minister Mohamad pointed out that although there are increasing costs of agricultural inputs, the impact of climate change, and a reliance on food imports, the primary focus of the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry (KPKM) is to ensure that the nation has access to affordable proteins, fruits, and vegetables.

Mohamad emphasized that the concept of Suku-Suku Separuh should be viewed as a public health initiative promoting balanced and healthy eating habits rather than a signal of limited local food availability. He reiterated the government’s commitment to increasing the nation’s self-sufficiency ratio (SSR) for essential food items to safeguard food security.

A recent study conducted by the Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy and Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) revealed that two Suku-Suku Separuh meals per day are unaffordable for the majority of Malaysian households, with the cost amounting to 46 percent of the national average income. The price of two Suku-Suku Separuh plates ranges from 32 percent of household income in Labuan to 66 percent in Sarawak, with the national average price estimated at about RM12.60 per plate.

Minister Mohamad stressed that improving the SSR for key food commodities such as ruminant meat and rice remains a priority. The government’s National Agrofood Policy 2.0 (2021–2030) has set ambitious targets to enhance the SSR by 2030, aiming for a 50 percent self-sufficiency level for beef and buffalo meat and 80 percent for rice. Initiatives to achieve these goals include investments in local production, strengthening agricultural value chains, adopting modern technology, and fostering strategic collaborations with the industry.

Presently, Malaysia’s self-sufficiency level for rice hovers between 67 and 70 percent, indicating that the country produces roughly two-thirds of its rice demand domestically. However, the self-sufficiency ratio for beef and water buffalo meat was notably low at only 14.7 percent in 2022. The Suku-Suku Separuh model, endorsed by the Ministry of Health (MOH), advocates for a plate divided into a quarter protein, a quarter carbohydrates, and half fruits and vegetables to promote balanced nutrition.

Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad highlighted the findings of the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2024: Nutrition report, emphasizing the importance of a comprehensive government strategy to address the inadequacies in Malaysians’ dietary habits, particularly the shortage of fruits, vegetables, and dairy products. Data from the NHMS 2024: Nutrition study revealed that Malaysians fail to consume the recommended servings of various food groups, including fruits, vegetables, cereals, meats, fish, nuts, legumes, and dairy products.

Although the Draft National Food Security Blueprint (NFSB) 2030 suggested that only a small fraction of Malaysians cannot afford a healthy diet, the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) on Malaysia’s healthcare system remains a significant concern, as acknowledged by the KPKM. Minister Mohamad highlighted the government’s commitment to poverty eradication efforts through multi-ministry initiatives like Sumbangan Tunai.