LEVERAGING ON FOOD SECURITY POLICY AS A COUNTERMEASURE AGAINST FOOD TERRORISM: A MALAYSIA EXPERIENCE

This paper delves with the growing necessity to explore the current food security policy in Malaysia especially with the potential of growing threats of food terrorism during a crisis such as a pandemic. It will deliberate on food security, food terrorism as well as ways to leverage on the policy developed during the pandemic to ensure that it is also able to champion threats in the form of food terrorism. Food security policy in Malaysia is largely about ensuring the availability of rice to the society. Significant findings were derived from conducting document analysis on seven (7) food security and food terrorism related national documents and articles including current policy and relevant literature. The data obtained is abductively analyzed via ATLAS.ti24 software. This study identified key themes which are catalyst and execution elements, yielding the need for an all-inclusive food security policy and also sensitization of food terrorism in Malaysia. It is pertinent for countries to raise awareness via sustainable policies pertaining to food security policy. It is hoped that information obtained from this research will benefit the individuals, researchers, institution and community for the advancement of knowledge and future practice.