Malaysia: Malaysia must act swiftly and strategically to mitigate the risk of disruptions to global energy supplies amid escalating geopolitical tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. Prof Dr Muhammad Fuad Othman of Universiti Utara Malaysia's (UUM) School of International Studies said that remarks by United States President Donald Trump on the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz are expected to reduce global oil supplies, with Malaysia also likely to be significantly affected.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Muhammad Fuad emphasized the necessity for Malaysia to source supplies from other countries while also maximizing local oil production. He suggested that the shift towards renewable energy, including solar power, should be accelerated as a medium- and long-term measure, in addition to considering supply rationing if the situation required. The expected depletion of national reserves by as early as May required swift action, including streamlining targeted subsidies to safeguard the well-being of the people, industry, and the country.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stated that the government would continue reviewing and looking for new measures to address rising prices of essential goods and fuel. Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, mentioned that a meeting involving the National Security Council (MKN), focusing on security implications, and the National Economic Action Council (MTEN), addressing economic concerns, would be held tomorrow. Additionally, the government has already taken steps to ease the burden on the public, such as maintaining the subsidized RON95 petrol price at RM1.99 per liter and providing diesel assistance for school buses.
In light of the possibility of prolonged conflict, Muhammad Fuad suggested that work-from-home (BDR) arrangements and virtual teaching and learning sessions should be strengthened, while large-scale projects could be temporarily postponed until the economic situation stabilizes. He also recommended that MTEN devise cost-saving measures to ease the impact of economic imbalances. To protect vulnerable groups, he proposed the introduction of food coupons for the hardcore poor and the reintroduction of the School Food Assistance Programme, along with strengthening the use of public transport to reduce cost pressures.
Meanwhile, Security and International Relations Analyst at Universiti Malaya (UM) Collins Chong Yew Keat highlighted that Malaysia must maintain a clear and principled stance in the Iran-United States conflict, while safeguarding national interests amid an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape. Chong noted that the conflict is expected to continue for up to three months, with both sides pursuing negotiations through unofficial channels, although neither wishes to appear weak in public.
Chong pointed out that both sides seemed to be seeking to maximize their 'advantages' and assess how far thresholds or red lines would be accepted during the two-week ceasefire period. He also mentioned the risk of third-party and external interference, influence, sabotage, or miscalculations during the ceasefire, which could derail efforts and reignite tensions. Iran and the US began talks in Islamabad last Saturday after President Trump agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Tehran. However, on Sunday morning, Vice President JD Vance announced that Iran and the US had failed to reach an agreement during the negotiations, leading to a US blockade on ships entering or leaving the Strait of Hormuz.