Editor

Contributing to 16.4% of the population income in Malaysia, the B40 or Bottom 40%
represents the lowest household earners in Malaysia. As in 2016, the B40 is defined as a
household with income less than RM4,306. While the income level has increased significantly
over the years, the challenges to the growing inflation is especially acute in the Klang Valley,
where the cost of living is significantly higher than other locations in Malaysia. Given the fact
that the population burden in the Klang Valley equates to a quarter of the country’s total population1, there is a limited number of affordable properties to meet the growing demand.

While animal products are the main proteins consumed in Malaysia, there is a large disparity
between Malaysia’s self-sufficiency in ruminant and non-ruminant livestock production.
Despite significant demand, the production of the ruminant sub-sector such as cattle, sheep,
buffalo, goat and deer are still lagging behind. Local production is mainly managed on a smallscale by small-hold farmers.1 Contrarily, non-ruminant industry such as egg, poultry and swine
production is more progressive and on a large scale. In fact, non-ruminant livestock has been at self-sufficient level since the 1980s.2

By 2050, the world’s demand for food will be 60% greater than it is today.1 To meet the
demands of the growing population while conserving resources for future generations, the
quest for food sustainability and security has taken central stage in the global spotlight. On the global scale, Malaysia is 42nd out of 113 nations in the Global Food Security Index (GFSI)
2018, deemed favourable by The Economist Intelligence Unit. However, the rank in GFSI is a decline from previously 35th place in 2016.2