AS the conflict in the Gulf continues and shows little sign of easing, it is even more important for Malaysia’s government to communicate more clearly and consistently.
The priority, they argue, is not to reassure at all costs or sound the alarm at every turn, but to deliver practical, transparent messaging that helps people understand what is happening - and what is being done in response.
For instance, current concerns centre on how the new development will affect efforts to mitigate the conflict’s impact on supply chains and the Malaysian economy, says South-East Asian Futures Initiative Centre policy researcher and analyst Dr Mikhail Rosli.
“Yes, the main concern right now is whether this escalation of hostilities will threaten the partial relief we’ve had since Iran allowed Malaysian ships to pass. The secondary concern is what this might do to oil prices since our subsidy bill is tied to fluctuations there.”
Assoc Prof Dr Sara Chinnasamy, a political and social media analyst at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), says effective crisis communication means providing regular updates, distinguishing between confirmed facts and uncertainties, and correcting mistakes openly when circumstances change.
“Communicate regularly on a predictable schedule, even when there are few updates,” she says.
Sara adds that the government should establish a central source of verified information while working closely with media organisations, community leaders and digital platforms to counter misinformation before it spreads. She cautions against messaging that is either overly optimistic or unnecessarily alarming. Instead, communication should explain the seriousness of the situation, acknowledge uncertainties and focus on practical actions people can take.
“Preparedness should be framed as a responsible community action rather than an emergency reaction,” she says.
Sara also stresses the importance of reaching vulnerable groups – including older adults, persons with disabilities, low-income households, rural communities and those reliant on electricity-powered medical equipment. Messages, she says, should be available in multiple languages and accessible formats.
Officials should avoid making assurances that may later prove inaccurate, Sara notes, adding that trust is strengthened when communication is supported by data, expert assessments, and visible evidence that mitigation efforts are producing results.
Sunway University economics professor Dr Yeah Kim Leng says confusion and panic can be reduced when policy communication is timely, clear, consistent and accurate. While speculation and misinformation cannot be eliminated entirely, their impact can be minimised through sustained efforts to improve economic and financial literacy.
Yeah adds that policymakers need access to real-time monitoring and high-frequency data to distinguish between temporary external shocks and longer-term inflationary pressures.
“Even experts often find it challenging to differentiate between temporary and permanent economic shocks,” he says.
He points to institutions such as Bank Negara Malaysia, the Finance Ministry, and the Department of Statistics Malaysia, as well as think tanks and universities, as playing an important role in helping the public interpret complex economic developments.
According to Yeah, policymakers should communicate using clear causal explanations that link global events to everyday costs; for example, explaining how a spike in global oil prices temporarily raises fuel costs differs from explaining how sustained demand growth contributes to longer-term inflation.
“Using visual tools and plain-language summaries further strengthens market stability and public trust,” he says.
Centre for Market Education chief executive officer Carmelo Ferlito agrees this distinction is crucial when discussing rising prices linked to external shocks. He says policymakers should communicate clearly that an oil shock is primarily a relative price shock rather than inflation in the strict monetary sense.
“If oil prices rise because of an external disruption, the relative price of energy-intensive goods and services rises. That is painful, but it is not the same as a generalised and persistent inflationary process,” he says.
Senior lecturer Mohd Nur Najmi Nuji from UiTM’s Faculty of Communication and Media Studies argues that withholding information about potential risks, such as supply shortages or rising prices, can backfire if the situation later worsens or details emerge through unofficial channels.
At the same time, he cautions against releasing alarming information without sufficient context, saying this can trigger unnecessary anxiety and market reactions.
