KUALA LUMPUR, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Comprehensive steps will be taken to ensure any impact from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East on domestic food and energy prices will be mitigated, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Wednesday.
Certain austerity measures will also be implemented, including foreign travel for ministers, and all government departments will be limited to trips already scheduled and scaling back Eid al-Fitr celebrations by government departments and government-linked companies, Anwar said in a televised speech.
Anwar, also the country's finance minister, assured that Malaysia's oil supply remains under control even though the conflict in the region could potentially affect the global energy market.
The supply of petroleum products in the country is sufficient at least until May 2026, and the government is also continuously monitoring current developments and striving to protect the interests of Malaysians, ensure the stability of the national economy, while supporting all efforts toward peace and a diplomatic resolution to the ongoing conflict, he said, adding that a special committee to study the impact of the conflict on the national economy will be formed.
Anwar added that the government will continue to prioritize the safety of its nationals in the Middle East, assuring that evacuation operations to bring Malaysians home from West Asia amid escalating conflicts in the region and noting the return of 163 Malaysians who were previously stranded in several countries in the region earlier on Wednesday.
The ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran is creating increasingly widespread ripple effects across the Middle East, sparking concerns over disruptions to global trade, particularly in the oil and gas sector, with expected knock-on effects to economies and inflation. Enditem
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