Malaysia will urge Thailand to fill its orders for 480,000 tonnes of rice this year when the prime ministers of the two nations meet for talks on Thursday, Malaysia's foreign minister said. Asian nations are battling inflation and food security concerns caused by soaring prices that worry regional governments upset over the prospect of hoarding and social unrest.
"Food will be discussed, rice being our staple food," Malaysian Foreign Minister Rais Yatim told reporters ahead of a meeting between Malaysian premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and visiting Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej.