00:01What happens when a war far from home starts raising the price of your dinner? In an opinion
00:07piece, Park Kim-Beng argues that the conflict in West Asia is no longer distant. It's becoming an
00:12economic shock that moves fast and hits everyday life. It starts with the straight-up Hormuz. A
00:19huge share of the world's oil and gas passes through it. So when tensions rise there,
00:24prices react almost instantly. And from there,
00:26Park says everything starts to cascade. First, fuel. Higher oil prices mean higher
00:34transport costs. Shipping, logistics, flights, everything becomes more expensive.
00:40Second, fertilizer. Modern agriculture runs on energy-intensive inputs. So when
00:46energy prices rise, fertilizer costs jump. Farmers then cut usage, absorb losses, or
00:52pass costs on. Third, animal feed. Grains like corn and soy get more expensive. And
00:59that pushes up the price of chicken, eggs, beef, and dairy. So what begins as a
01:04conflict in the Gulf doesn't stay there. It shows up on your plate. That's why Park
01:09calls this a price tsunami. From Malaysia, he says, the risk isn't a sudden collapse,
01:14but a prolonged squeeze. The country is still stable, but it's deeply tied to global trade.
01:20Which means when fuel, fertilizer, and food costs rise together, the impact compounds. Subsidies come
01:27under pressure, food inflation hits lower-income households hardest, and agriculture faces longer-term
01:33strain. So what should be done? Park says Malaysia needs to think like it's in a crisis without
01:41declaring one. That means targeted support, not blanket spending. Rethinking subsidies so they
01:47stay sustainable. And pushing practical changes from energy efficiency to reduced fuel use.
01:53But this isn't just national. He argues Aizen needs to act together on energy, food security,
02:00and supply chains. Because fragmented responses won't hold if the shock drags on. And that's the bigger
02:06point. In today's world, war isn't contained. A strike in the Gulf can translate into higher prices
02:12in Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, and Manila within weeks. What's unfolding in the Gulf isn't distant. It's
02:18already shaping how much things cost back home. For the full argument, read Park Kim Bang's opinion piece,
02:25West Asia Conflict Trigger Tsunami of Price Increases on FMT.
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