Sarawak, Sabah Need Special Focus In National Preparedness Plan
KUCHING: Sarawak and Sabah must be given special attention in Malaysia's national preparedness framework, particularly in addressing energy and food supply disruptions amid geopolitical uncertainty.
Senator Dato' Ahmad Ibrahim said remote settlements, border areas, islands, hospitals and interior communities in both states faced logistical challenges that differed substantially from those in Peninsular Malaysia.
He stressed that maritime security, local food production, emergency logistics and the continuity of electricity, water and telecommunications were vital for Sarawak and Sabah.
In a statement on Thursday, Dato' Ahmad who is also Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Defence and Security said Malaysia must strengthen its national preparedness framework to withstand energy and food supply shocks and rising youth unemployment.
He said the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, the conflict in West Asia and threats to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz showed that modern security risks extended far beyond the battlefield.
"When a critical oil shipping route is disrupted, the consequences can reach our fuel pumps, factories, farms, markets and ultimately the family dining table. We should strengthen resilience before supplies are interrupted, not after," he said.
Dato' Ahmad noted that PETRONAS had previously stated that nearly 40 per cent of Malaysia's crude oil requirements transit the Strait of Hormuz, meaning being an oil-producing country did not make Malaysia immune to import disruptions or higher freight, insurance and consumer costs.
He proposed a coordinated national resilience assessment involving the National Security Council, federal ministries, PETRONAS, security agencies and state governments.
The assessment, he said, should set transparent indicators for essential energy and food stocks, strengthen distribution plans and test the impact of international supply disruptions lasting 30, 60 and 90 days.
On employment, he pointed to economic insecurity among young people in parts of Europe, citing Eurostat data showing the European Union's youth unemployment rate at 15.5 per cent in September 2026.
He stressed that peaceful public demonstrations should not be conflated with riots, but said the grievances behind rising social tensions deserved attention.
"When young people feel that decent jobs, affordable homes and a secure future are increasingly out of reach, economic pressures can become a question of social confidence. Malaysia must respond early and constructively," he said.
Dato' Ahmad also referred to the European Commission's latest guidance encouraging households to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours in an emergency.
He suggested Malaysia consider locally appropriate preparedness education for disruptions caused by floods, blackouts or transport interruptions, without encouraging panic buying or stockpiling.
He also urged policymakers to balance artificial intelligence and automation with job security and human dignity, saying productivity gains must be accompanied by realistic retraining, entry-level opportunities and meaningful human service options.
"National security is not measured only by weapons and warships. It is also about sufficient food, reliable energy, stable employment and the public's confidence in tomorrow. Preparedness does not mean predicting war; it means fulfilling our responsibility to the people," he said.
Dato' Ahmad expressed hope that defence readiness, food and energy resilience, employment and the development needs of Sarawak and Sabah would receive practical attention in the implementation of Budget 2027 and the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP). -UKASnews
