KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will table the National Climate Change Bill in Parliament in the coming months, providing a legal framework to govern climate action and anchor market-based financing for adaptation and resilience projects.

Acting Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said the proposed law will enshrine both mitigation and adaptation measures into statute, creating obligations for reporting, compliance and enforcement similar to existing corporate governance standards.

“This will not only strengthen governance but also spur the development of a domestic carbon market, aligning Malaysia with its net-zero and nationally determined contribution targets,” Johari said in his keynote at the Climate Adaptation and Resilience (A&R) Conference organised by the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) today.

He said Malaysia must balance international commitments with national circumstances as a developing economy. While mitigation projects such as renewable energy attract investors, he said adaptation projects such as flood defences often struggle for financing because their benefits are localised and long-term.

Johari announced that Malaysia’s first comprehensive National Adaptation Plan (MyNAP) will be launched in January 2026. Developed with over 100 stakeholders across government, industry and civil society, MyNAP will outline strategies to address climate risks across health, infrastructure, agriculture, water and biodiversity.

“MyNAP will complement the Climate Change Act, serving as a blueprint to help Malaysia withstand the growing impacts of climate change,” he said.

Johari underscored the urgency of adaptation, pointing to the December 2021 floods that displaced thousands and caused RM6.1 billion in losses, equivalent to 0.4% of gross domestic product. Malaysia also recorded 45 heatwave warnings in 2024, up from just two in 2023.

Should current trends persist, the country could face up to 200 heatwave days annually by 2050, while floods are expected to grow more frequent and severe.

“Despite contributing only 0.69% of global carbon emissions, Malaysia is disproportionately vulnerable to climate risks. Floods, droughts and heatwaves threaten agriculture, fisheries and food security and we must prepare urgently,” Johari warned.

SC chairman Datuk Mohammad Faiz Azmi said the commission aims to catalyse more private capital into adaptation and resilience efforts, with sustainability set as a central pillar of the upcoming Capital Market Masterplan 4.

“Unlike mitigation, many adaptation initiatives struggle to attract financing as their benefits are long-term and not easily monetised. Yet they are essential to protect communities and economic resilience. This can only succeed if we align resources across government, business and society,” he said.

The A&R Conference gathered more than 400 delegates from ministries, financial institutions, academia and NGOs to discuss enabling policies, investment strategies and innovative models for adaptation finance.

As part of its Coastal Flooding Adaptation and Resilience (COFAR) initiative, the SC recently organised the COFAR University Challenge with ICAEW Malaysia, SD Guthrie and SEADPRI-UKM. The programme engaged 220 students from 29 universities to design financially viable flood resilience solutions for Carey Island.

“By embedding revenue-generating models in adaptation projects, we can improve their financial viability and attract investors,” Johari said in welcoming the initiative.

An interactive exhibition, The Rising Waters, accompanied the conference, tracing Malaysia’s flood history and showcasing climate projections to highlight the urgency of new financing approaches.

Johari reaffirmed Malaysia’s global pledges including maintaining at least 50% forest cover (currently at 54%), reducing emissions intensity by 45% by 2030 and cutting methane emissions by 30% by 2030, but stressed that commitments must be achievable.

“We cannot simply pledge figures without ensuring implementation. That is why engagement with industries and states is crucial so that policies are practical and compliance is achievable,” he said.

IPOH: Eighteen out of 29 key food crops in Perak have achieved self-sufficiency rates exceeding 100%.

State Rural Development, Plantations, Agriculture and Food Industry Committee chairman Datuk Zolkafly Harun said the crops with highest self-sufficiency include sweet potatoes (434%), sweet corn (408%), okra (354%), guava (325%), and long beans (240%).

However, 11 food crops remain below 100% self-sufficiency, including mangosteen (96%), rice and starfruit (93%), rambutan (87%), and chili (77%).

“This should serve as a catalyst for all of us to pursue innovative approaches and sustainable strategies,“ he said at the Perak State Department of Agriculture Extension Awards 2025 ceremony.

The permanent crop sub-sector led with 51.1% contribution, followed by livestock (23.9%), fisheries (23.3%), and forestry and logging (1.7%).

“This underscores the need to further strengthen the crop sub-sector as a primary driver,“ he added.

Zolkafly emphasised that adopting modern technology and sustainable practices are vital for sector growth.

He said modern technologies including smart farming, automation, drones, Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence should be encouraged to strengthen the national food supply chain. – Bernama

KAPIT (Oct 13): Works Minister Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi has called for greater emphasis on fire preparedness and preventive measures following the recent blaze that razed Rumah Austin Ekau, a 29-door longhouse in Nanga Sipan, Song, leaving 81 residents homeless.

Chairing a coordination meeting at the site yesterday, Nanta said the incident, which occurred in the early hours of Sept 28, should serve as a wake-up call for all quarters to step up disaster readiness, particularly in rural areas where access to emergency response is often limited.

“This incident is deeply saddening and should serve as an important lesson for all of us. There is a pressing need to improve disaster preparedness, especially in terms of firefighting equipment, which is still not at a satisfactory level,” he said in a statement.

Nanta urged the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) and other safety agencies to conduct regular inspections and report any shortcomings to ensure timely improvements in firefighting capacity at longhouses and remote settlements.

During the meeting, Nanta also discussed post-fire recovery efforts, including the proposal to rebuild the longhouse on its original site, pending resolution of land ownership and site clearance issues.

For now, he said residents are building temporary shelters (dampa) with RM10,000 in assistance from the Welfare Department (JKM).

He added the government has also allocated RM70,000 per door for the construction of new permanent homes.

“As a gesture of concern, Katibas assemblyman YB Lidam Assan and I are also contributing RM1,000 per door to help ease the burden of the affected families,” he said.

To further support reconstruction, Nanta announced an additional RM10,000 per door contribution—totalling RM290,000—with RM145,000 to be disbursed soon for the construction of temporary shelters.

“Hopefully these initiatives restore the spirit and livelihood of the affected families and remind us all of the importance of preparedness in facing disasters,” he said.

KOTA BHARU, Oct 13 — Kelantan police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat said that the proposed construction of a security wall along Sungai Golok in Rantau Panjang is no longer an option but a strategic necessity to curb smuggling activities, mitigate flood risks, and safeguard the country’s sovereignty along the Kelantan-Thailand border.

He said the narrow and shallow geographical features of Sungai Golok make it difficult to maintain effective security control through conventional means - even with the assistance of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), drones, or closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance.

“Sungai Golok is very narrow. Even with advanced technology, maintaining control remains difficult as it only takes minutes for someone to cross over to Thailand.

“That is why I would like to propose to the government to expedite the construction of a security wall or fence along the river buffer zone,” he told Bernama at the state contingent police headquarters recently.

He said the proposal would not only strengthen border control but could also serve a dual purpose - functioning as both a security barrier and a flood mitigation structure to prevent the frequent overflow of river water affecting the border areas.

He added that of the 163-kilometre Kelantan-Thailand border, about 91 kilometres consists of river boundaries, while the remainder is on land. Therefore, the installation of a security wall or fence could be implemented according to the suitability of each area.

He noted that the border terrain in Kelantan is far more challenging compared to other border states such as Perlis or Kedah, as the distance between the two countries in certain areas, particularly in Tanah Merah and Jeli, is only a few metres apart.

“As Sungai Golok is narrow and shallow, it provides easy access for livestock and contraband smuggling. The proposal to build a security wall has been discussed for some time, and I hope it can be implemented soon as it remains the most effective solution,” he said.

He also stressed that surveillance through drones, cameras and automated monitoring systems alone is insufficient, as these technologies still require continuous human supervision.

Technological tools such as drones and CCTV have limitations, as drones still require human operation while CCTV only records incidents without immediate response, he added.

Based on his year-long observation in Kelantan, he said the construction of a security wall remains the most comprehensive solution to curb border smuggling, noting that developed countries such as the United States and Mexico have adopted similar measures for more effective border control.

During the monsoon season, smugglers find it easier to cross the border as rising waters from Sungai Golok often submerge the boundary line, allowing them to enter Malaysian territory by boat - sometimes reaching as far as Pasir Mas and Meranti.

“When the river overflows, the border line disappears, and smugglers from Thailand take advantage of the situation.

He added that flood conditions also complicate police operations, as some border control posts and stations become inundated, limiting patrols to boat operations. However, these efforts are further constrained as personnel are also required to assist flood victims.

During the dry season, the low water level in Sungai Golok allows smugglers to easily cross the border on foot within minutes.

He said the proposed security wall would enhance safety for police and other enforcement agencies, including the General Operations Force, particularly during floods when patrols by boat are limited.

“This is not just about security but also about safeguarding national sovereignty. The wall is a long-term investment for the future,” he said.

In November last year, Bernama reported that the Thai government had welcomed the Kelantan government’s proposal to the federal government for the construction of a security and flood control wall along the Sungai Golok-Rantau Panjang border.

Narathiwat Governor Trakul Thotham was reported as saying that such a structure would be an important step in tackling cross-border crime. — Bernama