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SCMP’s Asia desk

The Malaysian government has entered “crisis mode” in response to the ongoing global energy supply disruption, its transport minister has warned.
“This is not a laughing or joking matter. It is a very, very serious matter,” Transport Minister Anthony Loke said on Tuesday, as quoted by the New Straits Times newspaper. “For the past month, energy costs have risen by more than 100 per cent.”
According to news website Free Malaysia Today, Loke said: “Even though at this moment our lights are still on and petrol stations are operating normally without supply concerns, this is something Malaysians cannot take lightly because the impact is felt worldwide.”
Global fuel shortages have been brought on by Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes that began on February 28.
While Malaysians had not noticed any changes yet, Loke said that “we cannot take things for granted, because sooner or later, we will feel the impact”.
He said that although Malaysia produced its own oil, it was still dependent on global markets and external supply chains.
“The government’s focus now is to ensure that fuel supply can be sustained. Our current supply is not expected to be disrupted until May. But if the war prolongs, we cannot guarantee that supply will not be affected. This is something all of us must pay full attention to.”

According to state operator Petronas, Malaysia produces 660,000 barrels of oil and about 200 million cubic metres (7 billion cubic feet) of gas a day. The country has an estimated 17 billion barrels in reserve.
Malaysia’s neighbours have not been as fortunate.
Many petrol stations across Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia have had to close, causing long queues outside those that are still open. On Sunday, a desperate Thai undertaker drove a corpse to a station to convince attendants that he was seeking extra supplies to cremate the body, not to resell on the black market.
Philippine became the first nation to declare an energy emergency on March 24. President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr said the conflict had disrupted global energy markets, “thereby posing a threat to the country’s energy security”, according to Reuters.
Highlighting these woes, Loke said: “We must not waste resources. Resources are not infinite and can be depleted.”
He encouraged Malaysians to “plan their travel more efficiently”.
“Malaysians tend to rely heavily on driving because petrol is subsidised. But we must cut down unnecessary travel and be more efficient. If there is an option to use public transport, please do so,” he said.


Prices for RON95 petrol are capped at 1.99 ringgit (50 US cents) per litre in Malaysia. The government has started cutting back on the subsidy by lowering the monthly eligibility cap to 200 litres from 300 litres, starting from Wednesday.
Loke said companies could also do their part by encouraging staff to carpool.
“These are simple steps we can take as a community and as individuals. If we do not start doing this now, we will face greater risks later as a country,” he said.
This would also be a good time to practise sustainable living as a whole, the minister added.
“Food waste is a major issue in the country. We throw away tonnes of food every day,” he said. “This not only wastes the cost of food, but also the cost of managing that waste. It is double wastage.”
We cannot afford to be complacent or overly comfortable
Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysian prime minister
In a social media post on Tuesday, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim also cautioned against complacency.
“We cannot afford to be complacent or overly comfortable. We must remain disciplined, resilient and united,” he wrote.
He called on Malaysians to strengthen the local economy. “Prioritise local goods and support our entrepreneurs, as internal strength is the main defence in facing the global energy crisis.”


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Malaysian minister warns of ‘very, very serious’ energy crisis

A man fills his car with petrol in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Photo: EPA

Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke speaks at the Hong Kong-Asean Summit 2025. Loke has warned that Malaysia cannot guarantee its energy supply will not be affected if the Iran war continues. Photo: May Tse

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A man fills up his car with fuel at a petrol station in Port Dickson, Negri Sembilan, Malaysia, on Wednesday. Photo: EPA

A motorcyclist passes the Bank Negara Malaysia building in Kuala Lumpur. The country enjoyed stronger-than-expected growth last year. Photo: EPA

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A vehicle is fuelled at a petrol station in Negri Sembilan on Wednesday. Surging diesel prices have put Malaysia in “a second-order stress phase”, analysts say. Photo: EPA

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says the fallout from the Iran conflict is no longer something Malaysia can watch from a distance. Photo: dpa

Cargo ships in the Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, on March 11. Photo: Reuters

Malaysia battles fuel subsidy misuse after viral 71-litre petrol grab

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A worker inspects a machine processing products at a plastics factory in Klang, Malaysia’s Selangor state. Raw material costs for plastic resins have surged. Photo: AFP

A woman looks at a fuel price board in front of a petrol station in Bangkok, Thailand, on Thursday. Photo: Reuters

A coal-fired power plant in Cirebon, West Java, Indonesia. Asian nations are ramping up their use of coal to tackle energy shortages and price spikes linked to the Iran war. Photo: AFP

Hanging fuel nozzles are seen at a petrol station in Manila, the Philippines, earlier this month. Photo: AP

Power lines on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Technical standards, regulatory frameworks and grid infrastructure vary enormously across Southeast Asia. Photo: AP

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Anthony Loke urges Malaysians to plan their travel and reduce resource wastage, saying energy supply would not be disrupted until May


Anthony Loke urges Malaysians to plan their travel and reduce resource wastage, saying energy supply would not be disrupted until May.


Malaysian minister warns of ‘very, very serious’ energy crisis

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Anthony Loke urges Malaysians to plan their travel and reduce resource wastage, saying energy supply would not be disrupted until May

Anthony Loke urges Malaysians to plan their travel and reduce resource wastage, saying energy supply would not be disrupted until May