SEREMBAN, March 28 — Seven tankers owned by Malaysian companies waiting to be granted passage through the Strait of Hormuz amid heightened security tensions in West Asia, said Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan.
He clarified that the vessels, including those belonging to Petronas and Sapura Energy, have not been detained but are waiting for a safe “window” to proceed.
Mohamad said the Iranian government has responded positively to Malaysia’s request to allow the ships to continue their journey.
“Prime Minister (Datuk Seri) Anwar Ibrahim and I have contacted our counterparts, and they confirmed there is no issue for our vessels to proceed. However, the tankers must wait their turn.
“We want to ensure all vessels pass safely, as the situation in the Strait of Hormuz is very tense, with heavy traffic of ships attempting to exit. Poor communication could lead to unwanted incidents,” he told reporters at his Aidilfitri open house in Rantau today.
He added that the delay is mainly due to coordination challenges, noting that communication disruptions in conflict situations can affect the relay of instructions.
“Sometimes directives from Tehran may not reach the strait effectively due to the constraints of communication during a conflict,” he said.
In a related development, Mohamad said communication with Malaysians in Iran is limited due to disruptions, although their safety is being monitored.
He also said there are no restrictions on performing umrah as Saudi Arabia’s airspace remains open, but advised the public to postpone non-essential travel.
“If it can be delayed, it is better to do so under current circumstances. However, flights are operating as usual for those who have already made arrangements,” Mohamad said.
