WHEN we talk about food security, we usually picture empty supermarket shelves or the price of onions suddenly shooting up. But the truth is, it is much bigger than that. It is about whether your family can afford a proper meal next month, whether a farmer in Kedah can survive another unpredictable monsoon, and whether Malaysia can keep feeding itself when global markets go haywire. So when the government says it is drafting a National Food Security Act, this is a big deal. The government has said the legislation will provide a stronger legal foundation for food security, while the Agriculture and Food Security Minister has said the Bill is expected to be tabled in Parliament in 2027. But here's the catch: if this ends up as another thick document filled with broad goals and good intentions, we will have wasted a massive opportunity. Malaysia already has policies covering the food system, including the National Agrofood Policy 2021-2030 and the newly launched National Food Security Policy 2030. The latest policy sets out a broader framework covering availability, accessibility, utilisation, stability, sustainability and agency. Yet the latest data show why we cannot afford to simply congratulate ourselves and move on. Malaysia's...