KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia does not arbitrarily sell fuel to other countries as the government’s priority is to ensure sufficient domestic energy supply for the people, stressed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, said discussions with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese yesterday touched on the need for complementary bilateral trade resources, rather than involving the sale of fuel as alleged by certain parties.
“Actually, we do not sell fuel. We said we need supplies from them – this must be understood. We need phosphate (fertiliser) from Australia, and they need urea from us,” he told reporters after Friday prayers at the Cyberjaya Fire and Rescue Department surau today.
Elaborating further, Anwar said the government is also unable to supply diesel to external parties at this time as the existing supply must be prioritised for domestic use.
“If there is a surplus, we can consider it. At present, there isn’t. But the allegations being made suggest otherwise, so I do not think they are appropriate,” he said.
Yesterday, Malaysia and Australia reaffirmed their joint commitment to ensuring a stable and resilient energy supply in the face of global uncertainties.
Anwar and his counterpart Albanese, who is on a two-day official visit to Malaysia starting April 15, also emphasised the importance of open trade flows amid global uncertainty to strengthen the economies of both countries. – April 17, 2026