Ministries directed to boost resilience by limiting overseas travel, reduce face-to-face meetings, go digital and expand use of online platforms: Minister
PETALING JAYA: The government is intensifying efforts to safeguard fuel stability, strengthen supply chains and address mounting economic pressures, including unemployment and misinformation as global and domestic challenges deepen, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said yesterday.
Speaking at a weekly press conference after the Cabinet meeting, Fahmi said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had directed all ministries and agencies to prioritise measures to reinforce fuel supply resilience.
Among them are reducing faceto-face meetings, limiting overseas travel and expanding the use of online platforms and government facilities for official meetings, training sessions and programmes.
He said the Cabinet also reviewed a recent disruption to baggage handling services at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, which was caused by a power outage and restored five hours later following a briefing by the Transport Minister.
Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) has been instructed to implement immediate corrective measures, including increasing manpower at key passenger touchpoints and submitting weekly progress reports to the Transport Ministry.
On public sector efficiency, Fahmi said 155,000 civil servants have registered under the workfrom-home initiative, resulting in estimated fuel savings of 334,000 litres, or about RM678,000, since April 15.
The chief secretary to the government has also been tasked with gathering similar data from the private sector to assess nationwide savings from remote working arrangements.
Fahmi said authorities have received 463 content takedown requests as of 7am yesterday. “According to platforms, Facebook accounted for 185 requests, followed by TikTok with 142 content items and Threads with 131. “Of the total, 65 investigation papers have been opened.
One case has been brought to court for prosecution, five have received Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission advice for compound action, while the rest are still under investigation.”
He added that most of the flagged content involved misinformation on fuel prices and toll charges.
Fahmi said the government is also preparing additional measures to support workers affected by ongoing energy-related economic pressures, with further refinements to be discussed at next week’s National Economic Action Council (MTEN) meeting involving the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI).
He added that supply chain concerns including shortages of key materials such as plastics, ammonia, urea and helium linked to global shipping disruptions were discussed, with the government assessing wider industrial impact and potential policy responses.
On reports claiming that Malaysia exported 200 million litres of diesel to Australia, Fahmi clarified that the allegation was inaccurate.
He said the fuel in question is tied to international commercial contracts and multinational storage operations in Malaysian waters and does not involve domestic fuel supply.
Separately, he said the government is also monitoring supply chain disruptions linked to tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, which were raised at the Economic Action Council meeting.
Authorities warned that disruptions involving petrochemical products such as ammonia, urea, helium and plastics are already affecting industries.
As an initial mitigation step, the Association of Banks in Malaysia has allowed small and medium enterprises facing financial stress to negotiate directly with banks for more flexible financial arrangements.
On foreign policy, Malaysia is closely monitoring developments following the United States’ seizure of an Iranian vessel, while reiterating its call for renewed negotiations and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to ease regional tensions.
