Tan Sri Mohd Hassan Marican appointed to chair a new task force coordinating Malaysia’s response to the global energy and food supply crisis.
KUALA LUMPUR: The government has established a Crisis Management Task Force to coordinate its response to the global energy crisis stemming from conflict in West Asia.
Tan Sri Mohd Hassan Marican has been appointed as the task force chairman under the National Economic Action Council.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil announced the appointment, stating Hassan will review necessary actions daily and gather feedback on West Asian issues.
Hassan, who also heads the Special Advisory Body to the Minister of Finance, will lead the effort to ensure national energy and food security.
The task force secretariat will be chaired by the Prime Minister’s Office senior advisor for the Economy, Nurhisham Hussein.
Fahmi explained these structures will assist the weekly National Economic Action Council by coordinating information on a daily basis.
He clarified the new task force’s role does not overlap with a separate special committee chaired by Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan.
That committee is responsible for examining broader economic developments following the conflict.
“The task force’s efforts are first and foremost regarding the supply, not only of fuel, fuel, energy for our country to remain secure for the coming months, but also the food supply,” Fahmi said.
He added a key objective is to ensure goods prices are controlled and smuggling activities are curbed.
The minister made the announcement after attending a memorandum of understanding signing ceremony on scam prevention.
The global context involves military operations by Israel and the United States against Iran since late February.
Iranian authorities report these operations have resulted in thousands of casualties.
Tehran has responded with missile and drone launches towards Israel and US bases in several Arab countries.
