By Engku Shariful Azni Engku Ab Latif
KUALA LUMPUR, April 9 (Bernama) -- The government will focus on ensuring there is sufficient supply of fuel and basic goods to enable economic activities to continue, according to Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir.
The fuel supply issue, he said, is the biggest challenge during the global energy crisis, and the country’s priority is to ensure sufficient supply.
“Based on views such as those from the World Bank, we know that the current crisis is a supply issue. Therefore, all available resources should be focused on guaranteeing the supply of fuel and basic goods to enable economic activities to continue,” he told Bernama.
He said this before appearing as a guest on the Ruang Bicara programme titled “Addressing the Global Energy Crisis: Efforts to Strengthen Economic Resilience” broadcast on Bernama TV tonight.
On Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s assurance that Malaysia’s fuel supply can last until June, Akmal Nasrullah said he believes that Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) will strive to ensure continued supply even beyond that.
“At the same time, we also observe a trend in many countries to begin looking at their domestic needs first.
“My medium-term expectation is that some countries may start viewing relationships (diplomacy) more like a barter system, that is, what they can get and what we can offer.
“So, this will be one of the strategies that should be examined in depth to ensure that national interest is safeguarded in our relations with other countries,” he said.
Speaking on the programme later, Akmal Nasrullah said the global energy crisis is also seen as an opportunity for the government to drive initiatives such as the use of biodiesel.
“(We do not want biodiesel to be merely) an option or alternative that we have, only to be forgotten once the crisis subsides and supplies return.
“That is among the challenges to change this situation so that our proactive efforts are not only to tackle the current crisis, but also to ensure that the resilience (of biodiesel) is more long-term and intact,” he said.
-- BERNAMA
