PUTRAJAYA: Motorists heading back to their hometowns for the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations need not worry about dry pumps as the government has given an assurance that there will be enough fuel supply nationwide during this period.
Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said a cross-ministerial committee, which he chairs, is actively monitoring the situation to prevent any supply disruptions during the festive period.
According to Amir Hamzah, the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) is keeping a close watch on fuel stock levels at both petrol stations and oil companies.
“Oil companies are already accustomed to the annual Hari Raya festive season. They know how to ensure sufficient fuel supplies, especially with the mass exodus from Kuala Lumpur back to states like Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah and Johor,” he said.
Amir Hamzah was speaking at a press conference yesterday with government spokesperson Datuk Fahmi Fadzil and Agriculture and Food Security Minister (KPKM) Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu after a special Cabinet meeting to assess the short, medium and long term impact of the Middle East conflict.
There have been reports of panic buying of petrol in parts of Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
Malaysia had previously announced that it has a 60-day reserve with fuel subsidies to continue, while Thailand has 95 days of fuel reserves and Indonesia is reported to have enough fuel supplies for 30 days.
Amir Hamzah said petrol companies routinely allocate extra petrol stock to high-traffic areas during the festive period.
He said the cross-ministerial committee that he chairs includes KPDN, KPKM, the Energy Transition and Water Transformation, the Economy and the Investment, Trade and Industry ministries.
At the same time, Amir Hamzah said Putrajaya was cushioning the impact of rising global oil prices. He said petrol subsidies alone are estimated to jump to about RM2bil, while diesel subsidies have increased by around RM1.2bil, bringing the total monthly fuel subsidy for RON95 and diesel to RM3.2bil.
This was RM2.5bil more compared with the RM700mil before the conflict.
“The burden of higher subsidies is manageable thanks to the fiscal reforms and consolidation measures implemented over the past three years,” he said.
He reiterated that Malaysia’s petrol and diesel supplies remain sufficient, unlike in some other countries, as PETRONAS and domestic oil companies work to maintain supply despite the Middle East conflict affecting key exports.
Amir Hamzah also said despite global uncertainties and geopolitical challenges arising from the ongoing conflict, Malaysia is well-positioned to continue growing and attract investment due to the country’s strong economic performance last year.
He reiterated that in the fourth quarter (4Q) of 2025, Malaysia’s gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 6.3%, while full-year growth reached 5.2%.
“This was driven by economic reforms, domestic investment and overall investment spending within the country.
“We believe these positive trends will continue into this year and we are starting from a more stable and stronger position,” he said.
He added that the government was also implementing preventive measures to safeguard the economy against external shocks, including encouraging greater foreign direct investment (FDI), supporting small-scale projects and helping local businesses maintain stability, in line with the initiatives under the 2026 Budget.
“From a foreign investor’s perspective, Malaysia is seen as a peaceful, stable country with strong potential,” he said.
Tensions in the Middle East have flared since Feb 28 following attacks by Israel and the United States on Iran.
As of March 13 morning, Brent crude oil price increased to US$100 per barrel after dropping initially to US$91 per litre on Wednesday.
The fluctuation in crude oil prices came following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran on Monday.
