PETALING JAYA: Measures to help businesses manage rising costs linked to the Middle East conflict should go hand in hand with structural reforms aimed at strengthening long-term economic resilience, say economists. Socio-Economic Research Centre executive director Lee Heng Guie said businesses need to diversify supply chains and focus on digitisation and automation to improve resilience. “Policy measures must take into account the duration of the energy shock, fiscal capacity and the needs of key industries,” he added. Agriculture economist Prof Datuk Dr Nasir Shamsudin said targeted fertiliser and diesel subsidies are among the most effective short-term intervention measures for the agricultural sector. He said Malaysia must invest in precision agriculture and domestic input production in the long-term.

Source: The Star March 25, 2026 02:59 UTC