SHAH ALAM, April 6 — Former Bank Negara Malaysia governor Tan Sri Muhammad Ibrahim has been appointed as chairman of the Selangor Energy Crisis Special Task Force to develop measures to address the impact of the West Asia conflict on the state’s economy.
Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Amirudin Shari said the task force will also consist of former Maybank Islamic Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Mohamed Rafique Merican and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s Malaysian Inclusivity, Development and Advancement Institute director Tan Sri Noor Azlan Ghazali.
"The task force will propose immediate measures to mitigate the impact (of the West Asia conflict) on the people and formulate actions for up to one year, should the war persist," he said in a statement today.
Among other things, the task force will assist in reviewing the 2026 Selangor Budget, focusing on addressing cost-of-living pressures and supporting residents and industries amid the ongoing energy crisis stemming from the conflict.
Amirudin added that state is also exploring opportunities such as accelerating the energy transition.
The decision was made at a special meeting of the Selangor State Economic Action Council to assess several key aspects of preparing immediate measures to assist the people and industries in response to the impact of the United States and Israel's war on Iran.
It was held following a roundtable session involving economic and industry experts.
He noted that the ongoing crisis, which has led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, has impacted the supply of key energy resources essential for transportation, as well as fertilisers and urea critical for food production.
"It has also affected chemicals and helium, which are vital materials in hospitals and semiconductor manufacturing,” Amirudin said.
Meanwhile, the Menteri Besar urged all Selangor residents to work together and be prepared for any challenges ahead, as the war will have long-term impacts on the national and state economies.
