SIPITANG: Malaysia’s strong international relations and political stability have enabled the country to secure continued access to oil and gas supplies despite growing uncertainty arising from the global energy crisis, says the Prime Minister.
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia’s prudent diplomatic approach had allowed countries such as Russia and Turkmenistan to regard Malaysia as a close and trusted partner.
Recalling his recent official visit to Turkmenistan, Anwar said the country’s leadership had expressed its willingness to collaborate with Malaysia through PETRONAS in operating one of the world’s largest gas fields.
“Our country maintains friendly relations with all nations, including the United States and China.
“At the same time, our domestic political situation remains stable, without upheaval or racial discord,” he said at the Sabah Southern Madani Link electricity grid project groundbreaking ceremony.
The Prime Minister said political stability was key to enabling the government to focus on its development agenda while continuing to attract foreign investments.
“That is why I continue to support Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor. We have had enough disputes over many issues, but the country’s politics must remain stable because without stability, investors will not come,” he said.
Anwar also said the world was facing growing uncertainty due to energy supply disruptions arising from conflicts in the Middle East, which had also affected shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and driven up global oil prices.
He said the situation had forced several countries, including some Asean members, to take drastic measures.
“We are grateful that despite these circumstances, fuel prices remain low... in Malaysia, RON95 remains at RM1.99 per litre.
“We adjusted diesel prices slightly, but not for sectors such as agriculture, buses and public transportation. We must ensure that whatever the challenge, the burden does not fall on the people,” he said.
On the project, Anwar said this reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring that development and basic infrastructure reach communities in Sabah’s interior.
He said development could not have a meaningful impact if basic amenities remained inaccessible to communities in remote areas, particularly in Sabah’s interior.
“That is why I am determined to ensure that development is distributed across all parts of the state, including rural and interior areas,” he said.
The SSML project involves the construction of a 275-kilovolt (kV) electricity transmission line linking Sabah’s west and east coasts, and is expected to play a key role in strengthening the state’s power grid and balancing energy distribution.
The project, which commenced in September last year, is scheduled for completion in 2028 at a cost of RM198mil.
