Soon Koh: ‘Grow your own veggies’ call ignores deeper food security issues

SIBU (April 2): The Agriculture and Food Security Minister’s suggestion for households to grow their own vegetables has drawn concern, as it risks shifting responsibility away from addressing structural issues in the country’s food system, said Bawang Assan assemblyman Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh.

Wong said the proposal by Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, while well-intentioned, reflects a “troubling mindset” when food security requires coherent national policy rather than simplified solutions.

“When a nation faces serious challenges in food security and agricultural sustainability, what is needed is structured policy, not slogans,” he said in a statement.

Wong said the real issue is whether the government is prepared to take decisive action to safeguard farmers and strengthen national food supply.

He warned that if policy remains at the level of slogans, such ideas would be remembered as failure of leadership rather than a solution.

He said local farmers are currently under pressure from rising diesel costs, higher prices of fertilisers and pesticides, and increasing production expenses.

At the same time, he said cheaper imported vegetables are flooding the market, suppressing local prices and squeezing farmers’ already thin margins.

“Farmers are working harder, yet earning less,” he said.

Wong also raised concerns over what he described as uneven standards between local and imported produce, saying stricter compliance on local farmers puts them at a disadvantage.

He said urging households to grow their own food is not a viable solution, noting that urban families lack space, time and expertise to sustain meaningful production.

“Food security cannot be built on balcony gardens,” he said.

Instead, Wong called for stronger government intervention, including diesel and input subsidies, stricter import regulations, and a more stable market for local produce through institutional procurement by government-linked facilities.

He also stressed the need for long-term agricultural modernisation, including technology adoption, improved logistics and supply chain reforms.

“Food is the first necessity of the people. Food security is not optional—it is fundamental,” he said.