Kuala lumpur: Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan chaired the inaugural meeting of the Special Committee on Energy Security and the Impact of West Asia Conflict today. The special committee was established to coordinate government actions related to energy security planning and assess the impact of conflict developments in West Asia, with the main focus on ensuring that the interests and well-being of the people continue to be safeguarded.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the committee involves several key governmental bodies, including the Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living, Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, and Bank Negara Malaysia. "The results of this committee's discussions will be presented at the Special Cabinet Meeting on March 13, 2026, as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today," Amir Hamzah stated in a social media post.

Previously, Prime Minister Anwar had announced the formation of this special committee to examine the impact of the US-Iran conflict on Malaysia's economy amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Anwar noted that Amir Hamzah would lead the assessment, working alongside Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir and other key ministers.

Tensions in West Asia have been escalating since February 28, following military actions by Israel and the US against Iran, which provoked a counterattack from Tehran targeting US interests in the Gulf region. This situation raises concerns about the stability of global trade routes, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz. The narrow strait between Iran and Oman is one of the world's most critical shipping lanes for oil and gas, with a significant portion of global energy supplies passing through daily. Consequently, conflicts in the area have the potential to affect energy markets, logistics costs, and the global economy.