Hold special Dewan sitting over Mideast conflict’s impact, says Hamzah

2026-03-27 - 07:10

Opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin said a special Dewan Rakyat sitting will give MPs the avenue to discuss the conflict’s impact in a transparent, responsible, and people-focused manner. PETALING JAYA: Opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin has urged Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to call for a special Dewan Rakyat sitting to discuss the implications of the Middle East conflict, particularly its impact on Malaysia’s economy and global markets. Hamzah presented his request in an official letter to the prime minister, citing how the Iran war has led to a sharp rise in global crude oil prices within a short period of time. “This situation not only places pressure on the global energy market, but also affects the country’s fiscal position and the government’s ability to continue providing subsidies and assistance to the people in a sustainable manner,” he said in the letter. The former Bersatu deputy president said a special sitting would give MPs the avenue to discuss the matter in a transparent, responsible, and people-focused manner. Hamzah said the request reflected the opposition’s commitment to ensuring Malaysia was prepared for economic challenges. “It is our hope that this matter can be discussed openly and comprehensively in Parliament to build public confidence in the nation’s preparedness to face current economic challenges, particularly in terms of food security,” said the Larut MP. Yesterday, Anwar announced a slew of fuel rationalisation measures to mitigate the economic impact caused by the conflict. This includes lowering the monthly quota under the BUDI95 programme from 300 litres to 200 litres, and capping diesel purchases in East Malaysia according to categories of vehicles. Anwar, who is also the finance minister, also advised the private sector to implement work from home measures to save fuel, saying this was already being implemented by several companies and banks. He said similar arrangements would be rolled out in stages for selected civil service groups.