Malaysians quietly stockpile staples as energy crisis fuelled by Iran war tests Anwar

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KUALA LUMPUR – ​In the northern state of Penang, Mr Richard Teh, 48, has been stocking up on bottled water, dry goods and 10kg bags of rice, which he tucks away in a corner of his kitchen.

This is not the frantic, blind hoarding as seen in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic, but a calculated move as the impact of the Iran war reaches Malaysian shores.

“​During Covid-19, suddenly, we could not just go out to buy what we need,” Mr Teh, who works as a small-time trader, recalled. “That’s when I realised you must always have a bit in reserve.”

As the conflict in the Middle East sends tremors through global energy and food markets, Mr Teh told The Straits Times he is not panicking. For now, he is steadily building reserves for three families – duplicating every purchase of staples to ensure his parents and in-laws are equally covered.

In the light of rising global uncertainty, he even began growing corn and okra in repurposed paint drums two years ago. He admits he is not an expert, but “at least it’s something”.

​Mr Teh is not alone. Across Malaysia, others are also building their reserves slowly. The digital space is buzzing with discussions on practical survivalism, from tips on vacuum-sealing rice to using oxygen absorbers to extend the shelf life of staples.

​On the ground, the signs of strain are subtle but undeniable. There are no long queues at the hypermarkets, but gaps on the shelves are becoming visible, even as shrewd shoppers compare prices across stores.

“I’ve been checking cooking oil prices. Here, it’s slightly more expensive than the other shop,” an elderly Chinese woman said to this writer, while scanning the shelves at a neighbourhood sundry shop.

She remarked that her preferred brand of canned sardines – an affordable source of protein – has been flying off the shelves, and she managed to get her hands on one last tin, safely stowed in her shopping basket.

Meanwhile, transport operators are facing escalating costs, with diesel prices in Peninsular Malaysia recently bumped to RM6.02 (S$1.90) per litre, from RM5.52 the week before. School bus operators are adjusting fees in stages.

More expensive fertilisers – much of which Malaysia imports – would weigh on vegetable prices, adding another layer of pressure on households.

In the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, cafe owner Mohd Haikal Azmi was considering adjusting his menu.

“Maybe I should introduce nasi bujang,” he said, referring to the simplest meal one could get on a tight budget of RM5 or under: rice, a fried egg, sambal and a bowl of plain soup on the side.

Across the country, Malaysians are feeling the pinch as the fallout from the Middle East conflict feeds into global supply chains. The situation is likely to worsen, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim warned.

​In an address to the nation on April 1, Datuk Seri Anwar said the government is spending roughly RM4 billion a month to keep fuel prices stable.

However, there is a limit to how far the government can continue footing the bill, he indicated.

His comments came barely a week after the government temporarily cut the subsidised RON95 quota by a third, to 200 litres per month per person, to rein in costs as Brent crude soared past US$100 a barrel.

In a bid to curb national energy demand, the government will implement work-from-home arrangements for civil servants, government agencies and government-linked companies starting April 15.

While some Malaysians may look to the government for relief, the central bank has indicated that support measures, if any, would be “targeted” rather than broad-based.

It is a message that is unlikely to align with public expectations. Online, frustration is mounting and increasingly aimed at the administration. 

“What is the point of being an oil-producing nation when fuel prices keep going up?” one user lamented on Facebook, after diesel prices rose sharply.

Professor Awang Azman Awang Pawi, a political analyst at Universiti Malaya, described the current moment as a critical test for Mr Anwar.

Cost-of-living issues in Malaysia cut across class and ethnicity, he said, making them politically potent. Prolonged pressure, if not matched by a credible sense of control, risks eroding public confidence. 

The current moment, he added, echoes lessons from the fall of former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin. Mr Muhyiddin’s administration collapsed at the height of the Covid-19 crisis amid a mix of political fragility, economic strain and the perception that his government had fallen short in handling the pandemic.

But Prof Awang noted that pressure from the energy crisis would not automatically erode government support. Successfully navigating the crisis could solidify Mr Anwar’s standing.

“It depends on whether the government seems to be in control, and whether there is a credible alternative,” he said. “This is a critical juncture. It can tilt either way.”