PETALING JAYA: Halting general petroleum exports will be the government’s last resort if the ongoing Middle East conflict worsens, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof. According to the Statistics Department, Malaysia exported RM174.6bil worth of oil and gas products last year, comprising RM103.55bil in refined products and RM71.05bil in crude oil and LNG. Meanwhile, Fadillah said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has been contacted by Gulf leaders to act as a mediator in the ongoing Middle East conflict. As of Saturday (March 14), Brent crude oil had risen to US$103 per barrel. The fluctuation in crude oil prices followed Iran’s closure of the Straits of Hormuz on Monday after escalating attacks by the United States and Israel.

Source: The Star March 14, 2026 16:49 UTC