The decision of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to engage in relentless phone-call diplomacy - and many foreign visits - is now yielding tangible, measurable results. Few outcomes are as strategically significant as Iran allowing Malaysian vessels to pass through the Straits of Hormuz. Malaysia exports its own lighter, higher-priced crude while importing heavier, cheaper oil from the Middle East that passes through the Strait of Hormuz. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has created significant economic pressure, forcing the government to increase fuel subsidies to control domestic prices. Allowing Malaysian ships to pass through does not weaken Iran's geopolitical posture but strengthens its ties with a key Southeast Asian nation.

Source: The Star April 01, 2026 18:09 UTC