THE energy supply shock we are seeing in front of us and the pain we are feeling in our pockets is only the beginning. If President Trump chooses further escalation, and if the Strait of Hormuz is closed more tightly or for longer, the world may soon face a triple shock: first energy, then fertiliser, then helium.
We are in a position of relative strength, going into this global crisis, in comparison with many of our regional neighbours. Many of the hard-hitting crises already being felt by other countries, are still a distance away in the horizon. But it is already in view; what maybe weeks away could come much sooner. This includes a much worse version of the fuel supply squeeze that we are still shielded from right now.
Oil is the most visible pressure point. But fertiliser is what sustains food production, and helium is critical for healthcare and advanced industry. If these supply lines are disrupted in a prolonged way, the consequences will not stop at the petrol pump. They will spread into food prices, farm output, logistics, hospitals, electronics, fibre optics, semiconductors, and manufacturing.
That is why the Government must now seek from Parliament a strategic, targeted spending approval, whether it is called a fiscal stimulus, a contingency shield, or any other term. The name matters less than the function. Malaysia needs an approved national response framework to protect people, businesses, and jobs against these cascading shocks.
This response must be disciplined and precise. Assistance, subsidies, and incentives should be targeted and output-based, not blanket and input-based. We should support outcomes that keep the economy functioning: food produced, goods moved, patients treated, jobs retained, exports delivered, and essential services maintained.
Strategic sectors and essential industries must be kept operational. This includes food production and agro-inputs, logistics and freight, public transport, healthcare and medical supply chains, utilities and energy, ports and shipping, digital and telecommunications infrastructure, as well as strategic manufacturing such as semiconductors, electrical and electronics, and other export-critical industries.
Parliament must also be given a full and honest accounting of Malaysia’s exposure: fuel and LNG supply, fertiliser and feedstocks, animal feed, food imports, helium, medical inputs, shipping routes, and industrial raw materials. We need clarity on reserves, vulnerabilities, alternatives, and the trigger points for intervention.
Malaysia cannot afford to govern this crisis one headline at a time. If the world moves from energy shock to fertiliser shock to helium shock, then our response must be ready before the pain becomes visible everywhere. In times like these, foresight is not a luxury. It is the first duty of the government. – April 9, 2026
Howard Lee Chuan How is the Member of Parliament for Ipoh Timor