Govt To Continue Targeted Interventions Amid Global Supply Pressures - Akmal Nasrullah
KUALA LUMPUR, May 19 (Bernama) -- Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Ahmad Nasir said the government will continue implementing targeted interventions to ensure the rakyat are not left without appropriate support, particularly in ensuring sufficient supply of essential goods, stable prices and assistance reaching groups that genuinely require help.
He said global supply pressures are being closely monitored as their effects may not occur immediately, but could gradually affect prices, industrial operating costs, employment and household spending.
“The impact of the global supply crisis is expected to become more pronounced in the third quarter of this year, particularly on price stability, industrial operating costs and the labour market.
“Malaysia’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 5.4 per cent in the first quarter of 2026, coupled with the unemployment rate remaining at full-employment levels, provides a strong foundation for the government to implement more structured, proactive and responsive measures to address current economic challenges,” he said during the Global Supply Crisis Briefing broadcast on the ministry’s Facebook page today.
Akmal Nasrullah said Malaysia’s GDP growth outperformed several major economies that have announced their first-quarter 2026 GDP performance, including Singapore (4.6 per cent), the Philippines (2.8 per cent) and China (5.0 per cent).
Meanwhile, Brent crude oil prices remained elevated, ranging between US$105.62 and US$112.15 per barrel, reflecting a market that remains sensitive to geopolitical risks and expectations for global energy demand, particularly from major Asian economies.
He emphasised that the impact on the domestic financial market remains manageable. Between May 11 and 15, 2026, the index moved within a narrow range of between 1,740.22 points and 1,750.56 points at the close of daily trading.
“This shows that investor sentiment remains cautious, but there has been no abrupt market disruption,” he said.
On the cost of living, Akmal Nasrullah said that although the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for April 2026 showed Malaysia’s inflation rate rising to 1.9 per cent from 1.7 per cent in March 2026, inflation remained moderate and under control compared with several regional countries and major global economies.
He said the increase in domestic inflation was mainly driven by the transport group, which rose to 4.1 per cent in April 2026 from 1.6 per cent in March 2026.
“The main factors behind the increase were the rise in the average diesel price in Peninsular Malaysia to RM5.92 per litre from RM4.12 in March 2026, as well as the increase in RON97 prices to RM5.06 per litre from RM4.03 previously,” he said.
-- BERNAMA