Kuala lumpur: The 1/2026 National Invasive Alien Species (IAS) Committee meeting today focused on approving the latest list of IAS animal and animal-borne diseases for 2025, as a step to strengthen control and prevention of risks to public health and the livestock industry.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry (KPKM) in a statement said that the updated list of IAS animal and animal-borne diseases for 2025 has been revised by the Technical Committee on Animal and Animal-Borne Diseases.

'In addition, the meeting also approved the Strategic Action Plan which includes the implementation of programmes for the prevention, eradication, containment, and control of the Guam Rhinoceros Beetle by the IAS Plant Technical Committee to protect the coconut and palm oil industry from the threat of this pest,' according to KPKM.

The statement said that the meeting was also briefed on the status of the National Action Plan on Invasive Alien Species (NAP IAS) achievement, which is 90 per cent for the period 2021 to 2025, with the ministry currently in the process of preparing the NAP IAS 2026-2030 document.

In an effort to address IAS in the agricultural sector and strengthen public awareness, KPKM said that the government has developed a central reference database through the Malaysian Biodiversity Information System (MyBIS), which can be accessed at https://www.mybis.gov.my.

"Integrated cooperation between the government, relevant agencies, and the community will ensure that the threat of IAS can be addressed," according to the statement.

The meeting held at Wisma Tani here today was chaired by the KPKM secretary-general Datuk Seri Isham Ishak and involved new representatives from the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) as well as the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS).