00:00What happens when a broken ceasefire far from home starts pushing up your cost of living?
00:06In an opinion piece, Farkin Banks says Malaysia cannot afford to wait and see.
00:10Because if the fragile truce in West Asia collapses, the shock won't stay there.
00:15It will move through fuel prices, food systems, and industrial output, and land here.
00:22Farr says this is not a moment for reaction, it's a moment for preparation.
00:26At the center of his argument is the Strait of Hormuz, which carries about a fifth of the world's oil
00:31supply.
00:32If conflict resumes through fighting, blockades, or even rising insurance costs,
00:37energy prices could spike almost immediately, and Malaysia, he argues, is not insulated.
00:43Despite being an energy producer, it is still a net importer,
00:46with an economy tied to subsidies and global supply chains.
00:50So when prices rise, the pressure shows up fast.
00:53He points out that subsidies are already massive.
00:56Raw 95 alone costs about 3 billion ringgit a month,
00:59with diesel adding another 4 billion ringgit.
01:02That's 84 billion ringgit a year, more than what Malaysia spends on health or education.
01:06Which is by far argues, the response has to start with something simple.
01:11Use less energy.
01:13He calls for a cultural shift.
01:15Not panic, but restraint.
01:17That means standardizing air conditioning to around 23 to 24 degrees in public and commercial spaces.
01:23It means relying less on private cars, and more on public transport, carpooling, and programs like My50.
01:30It also means rethinking how we work.
01:33Farr says remote and hybrid work should now be part of an energy strategy,
01:37cutting fuel use and easing congestion at the same time.
01:40Industry, he adds, has to play a role too.
01:42Energy-heavy sectors should optimize usage, shift to off-peak hours, and adopt smarter monitoring.
01:49And at home, small changes still matter.
01:52Turning off unused appliances, using efficient lighting.
01:55Because conservation, he argues, only works when it scales.
01:59At the same time, Farr says the government has to be realistic.
02:03Subsidies cannot keep expanding indefinitely.
02:06So support should be targeted, protecting the vulnerable while encouraging efficiency elsewhere.
02:11And beyond the immediate crisis, he says Malaysia needs to move faster on renewables, especially solar.
02:17Because this isn't just about getting through the next shot.
02:20It's about being less exposed to the next one.
02:24He also warns that this goes beyond energy.
02:27Higher fuel costs will feed into food prices, logistics, and household spending.
02:32So what's at stake is broader economic stability.
02:36And finally, he cautions against complacency.
02:39Because markets will react not just to disruption, but to uncertainty.
02:43If Malaysians keep consuming as the stability is guaranteed, the eventual shock will be much harder to absorb.
02:50So his message is straightforward.
02:52Prepare now, or pay more later.
02:55For the full argument, read Farkinbank's piece,
02:57Fragile Truths dictates that we prepare for the worst on FMT.
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