Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during a special announcement on WFH arrangements. (Instagram / Anwaribrahim_my)
Malaysia will introduce work-from-home (WFH) arrangements for government institutions from April 15 as part of efforts to conserve fuel and safeguard national energy supplies, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced on April 3.
In a special address, Anwar said the Cabinet had agreed to implement the measure across government ministries, agencies, statutory bodies and government-linked companies. The initiative aims to reduce fuel consumption amid mounting pressure on global energy supplies.
At the same time, he urged the private sector to adopt similar measures for certain employees where feasible. He emphasised that the government is also taking steps to mitigate the impact of the ongoing global energy crisis and protect the public from rising costs.
Anwar Ibrahim, who also serves as finance minister, said the Treasury is currently spending about RM4 billion each month to absorb the sharp rise in crude oil prices following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. However, he cautioned that the government’s ability to continue absorbing such costs has its limits.
To strengthen energy security, Malaysia is also seeking to diversify its sources of oil and gas imports. Anwar said discussions with leaders from Iran and several Gulf nations, as well Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, indicated that the conflict in the Middle East could worsen before any recovery begins.
He warned that prolonged instability could disrupt global supply chains, particularly in the energy sector, and that Malaysia would not be immune to its effects.
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