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TRANSPORT Minister Anthony Loke has confirmed that Malaysian vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing regional conflict will not be subjected to any toll charges.
He said the matter was conveyed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during the National Economic Action Council (MTEN) meeting held in Putrajaya this morning.
“Iran’s Ambassador to Malaysia, Valiollah Mohammadi Nasrabadi, has informed us that Malaysia is regarded as a friendly nation with strong diplomatic ties, and no toll is being imposed on Malaysian vessels. The Prime Minister also shared this at the MTEN meeting,” he said, as reported by Bernama.
On the impact of the West Asia conflict on the domestic aviation sector, Loke said there are currently no major disruptions apart from rising fuel costs and the ministry is holding regular engagements with industry players to ensure the situation remains under control.
“Some airlines have indicated they may rationalise their operations, including merging flights to improve efficiency. If load factors are low, they will need to reduce services on certain routes,” he said, adding that such measures are temporary to help airlines manage higher jet fuel costs.
On the shipping sector, Loke said discussions are ongoing between the government and industry stakeholders to introduce a more structured and standardised surcharge mechanism to ensure fair and sustainable pricing.
He noted that the Malaysia Shipowners Association (MASA) had presented its views to the MTEN, including a call for better management and governance of surcharges.
Meanwhile, Loke said no projects under the ministry will be halted, but priorities may be adjusted in line with the Prime Minister’s directive to ensure projects with the greatest benefit to the people and the economy are implemented first.
“At this point, there are no budget cuts, and no projects are being stopped. However, we are closely monitoring the situation and prioritising projects that deliver the most value to the country,” he said. – March 31, 2026
