Government Monitoring West Asian Crisis Impact on Inflation and Supply Chains, Says Deputy Minister

KOTA BHARU, Aug 29 — The government is closely monitoring inflation movements and supply chain risks stemming from the escalating West Asian crisis to protect the public from cost pressures and commodity price hikes, according to Deputy Economy Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shahar Abdullah.

Mohd Shahar stated that continuous monitoring is essential due to the rapidly evolving situation in West Asia, which carries the potential to disrupt global supply networks and drive up strategic commodity costs.

He reassured that national supplies, particularly strategic commodities like oil, remain sufficient to last through the end of the year, while proactive measures are being executed to cushion the domestic economy from external shocks.

“Not only are we looking at the oil supply for us to last until the end of the year, but we are also monitoring the movement of inflation on goods so that the pressure on the community is not felt as a whole,” Mohd Shahar said after officiating the annual general meeting of the Malay Contractors Association of Malaysia (PKMM) Kelantan chapter last night.

Mohd Shahar noted that while the trajectory of the West Asian conflict remains unpredictable, the government is actively preparing for various scenarios rather than taking a passive stance.

He highlighted that authorities track economic indicators daily utilizing a dedicated Crisis Monitoring Dashboard, which also serves to communicate transparent updates directly to the public.

While Malaysia’s recent economic performance has demonstrated stronger-than-expected growth, Mohd Shahar cautioned against complacency, emphasizing that continuous monitoring and stakeholder engagement remain vital to absorbing external shocks without compromising domestic economic stability.

–NMT