Establish Crisis Management Council to tackle El Niño and geopolitical impacts : Abdul Kassim

28 April 2026

KOTA KINABALU: Newly appointed State Assemblyman (ADUN), Datuk Abdul Kassim Jali @ Razali, proposes the establishment of an El Niño and Gulf War Crisis Management Council as an immediate step to address simultaneous pressures on the state’s economy and food supply.

He said the need arises from current developments showing that crisis risks are no longer merely possibilities, but increasingly approaching reality with direct impacts on Sabah’s people.

According to him, current geopolitical tensions in the Gulf region are beginning to pressure global oil prices, while climate forecasts indicate a more than 60 per cent likelihood of the El Niño phenomenon occurring between July or August 2026 and early 2027.

“The combination of these two factors is not just an international issue, but will have direct effects on Sabah’s people, particularly in terms of cost of living and food supply security,” he said while debating the government’s policy speech at the Sabah State Assembly (DUN) sitting today.

He explained that the country’s food system, which still relies heavily on imports, leaves Sabah vulnerable to supply disruptions, especially when major supplying countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, and India also face El Niño risks.

He said this situation could lead to domestic supply constraints in Sabah as well as sudden import price hikes, thereby exerting compounded pressure on the market.

“This price pressure is coming from two overlapping directions: rising energy costs due to geopolitical conflict and reduced agricultural yields from El Niño.

“Rising oil prices will increase logistics costs, while declining agricultural output will drive up food prices,” he said.

In this regard, he said the proposed Crisis Management Council must serve as a strategic coordination mechanism at the state level, bringing together the state government, federal agencies, food and logistics industry players, and experts in economics, climate, and food security.

According to him, the council’s main functions would include coordinating supplies and ensuring the availability of strategic stocks for staple foods like rice, chicken, and other daily necessities.

“At the same time, efforts to diversify import sources must be strengthened to avoid over-reliance on any single country,” he said.

He also suggested that the council should drive interventions to curb costs and bolster supply chains, including accelerating the distribution of local produce and increasing investment in storage facilities.

In addition, he said local production must be strengthened through direct aid to farmers and livestock breeders, including input subsidies, purchase guarantees for produce, and investments in irrigation systems and water reservoirs as measures to combat drought.

“This council should also function as a data collection centre and early warning system to monitor global price movements, potential input supply disruptions, as well as local weather conditions and agricultural yields.

“This approach is essential so that every decision is proactive and data-driven, rather than reactive after a crisis has occurred,” he said.

He warned that without early action, the people risk facing significant food price increases, widespread cost-of-living pressures, and food supply instability.

“Therefore, establishing this Crisis Management Council is an urgent necessity to ensure the state’s economic stability and the people’s wellbeing remain protected,” he said.

Meanwhile, Abdul Kassim said Sabah continues to demonstrate impressive economic resilience, having recorded RM7.6 billion in manufacturing sector investments last year, an almost 208 per cent increase compared to 2024.

He also described the launch of the Sabah Maju Jaya 2.0 Directional Development Plan for 2026 to 2030 as timely, retaining the three main pillars of economic growth, human capital development and people’s wellbeing, as well as infrastructure connectivity and green sustainability.

He said the plan also emphasises the blue economy, digitalisation, and artificial intelligence (AI) technology, positioning Sabah in line with global development trends.

In addition, under the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13), 1,173 projects are planned for Sabah, including 933 new projects with a funding ceiling of RM12.024 billion, a 141.62 per cent increase compared to RMK12.

“This manifests the government’s commitment to ensuring Sabah’s development continues to be driven aggressively, inclusively, and comprehensively for the people’s wellbeing,” he said.

He is confident that with the Chief Minister’s leadership and the state government’s commitment, Sabah is on the right track to continue advancing.

“With a spirit of unity, political stability, and cooperation from all parties, I believe Sabah can emerge as a more competitive, prosperous, and thriving state,” he said.

He gave his full support to the government’s policy speech and hopes all plans can be implemented successfully for Sabah’s future.