KOTA BHARU, Aug 8 — Discussions on the issue of shrimp imports from Thailand are at the final stage and are expected to be resolved by mid-August, said Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu.
“A resolution is expected to be reached within that timeframe,” he told reporters after attending the closing of the Road to MAHA 2026 East Coast Zone programme here today.
The ministry announced last month that it had temporarily suspended imports of five shrimp species from Thailand effective June 1 as part of stricter controls on fishery products from the neighbouring country.
The species are Penaeus esculentus (brown tiger shrimp), Fenneropenaeus merguiensis (banana shrimp), Penaeus vannamei (white shrimp), Penaeus monodon (tiger shrimp) and Penaeus stylirostris (blue shrimp).
Meanwhile, Mohamad said MAHA 2026 would focus on innovation and modernisation in the agriculture sector, with participation from more countries, including those from Africa and Central Asia, as well as China, Britain, Japan and the United States.
He said the participation reflected interest in agricultural technology developments and would provide opportunities for technology-sharing between countries.
“Food security is now a major agenda worldwide, especially for a country like Malaysia, which still relies heavily on food imports,” he said.
Mohamad said the Road to MAHA 2026 programme in Kota Bharu was the final instalment after similar programmes were held in Kedah, Selangor, Melaka and Labuan.
He also expressed appreciation to the state government, federal and state government agencies, and strategic partners for their cooperation in making the programme a success.
Mohamad said he was confident MAHA 2026 could attract around five million visitors, similar to the number recorded two years ago, with the National Day celebrations also expected to draw more visitors.
MAHA 2026, scheduled from August 28 to September 6, targets four million visitors, RM58 million in sales and RM8 billion in potential investments, while showcasing modern agricultural technology, innovation and industry cooperation.
