SHAH ALAM, Aug 29 — Visitors to the Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism Show (MAHA) 2026 are encouraged to wear face masks as a precaution amid the current haze and hot weather conditions.
Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said the measure was important to safeguard public health, particularly as visitor numbers are expected to increase during the school holidays and over the weekend.
“With the holidays beginning today, we anticipate a large turnout. I hope visitors will wear face masks, if possible, due to the haze and weather conditions to better protect their health,” he told a press conference after officially opening MAHA 2026 at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS), today.
Also present were Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin and the ministry’s Secretary-General Datuk Seri Isham Ishak.
On visitor numbers, Mohamad said 140,000 visitors were recorded on the first day of MAHA 2026 yesterday.
He also extended an invitation to the public to join the Merdeka Eve celebration at MAEPS at 11.30 pm tomorrow, which will feature drone and fireworks displays.
Held under the theme “Penciptaan Nilai Demi Keterjaminan Makanan”, MAHA 2026 runs from Aug 28 to Sept 6 at MAEPS, bringing together about 2,000 exhibitors and targeting more than four million visitors throughout the event.
Mohamad also said that some 121 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) worth about RM8 billion are expected to be signed in conjunction with MAHA 2027.
He said about RM4 billion of the total would involve partnerships with China, while the remainder would involve other countries.
Mohamad said the agreements would cover technology exchange, investment opportunities, capacity building and training for farmers, including Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), as well as creating opportunities for local agri-food products to enter export markets.
He added that the MAHA Go Global initiative would also help expand the reach of local products, particularly in Central Asia and Eastern Europe.
“That is why, through MAHA Go Global and FAMA, we hope to play a greater role in expanding markets for Malaysian products, particularly in markets where we are still lagging behind,” Mohamad said.
