Prolonged Strait of Hormuz disruption will be felt, but less severe - Johari

MALAYSIA will be affected by any prolonged disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, but the impact is expected to be less severe than in countries that depend heavily on imported oil and gas - Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said.

Johari said the strategic waterway was closely tied to the global energy supply chain, meaning any disruption would eventually be felt across other sectors.

“The Strait of Hormuz is more related to the energy sector. When the energy sector is affected, all industries will be affected,” he told reporters after attending Invest in Perak Day 2026 today.

The event was launched by Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad.

Johari noted that Malaysia was still a net importer of oil but remained a net exporter of gas, including liquefied natural gas (LNG).

This, he said, meant Malaysia would not be completely insulated from the fallout, but would be in a better position than countries with no domestic oil and gas resources.

“We will be affected just as other countries are affected, but not as severely as countries that do not have oil and gas,” he explained.

The Strait of Hormuz has faced major disruption amid the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran, with concerns mounting over the movement of oil and gas through the waterway.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday also posted a map on his Truth Social account labelling the Strait of Hormuz as “NEW U.S. Territory”, renewing his threat to claim control over the strategic waterway.

Any prolonged disruption could have wider implications for global energy prices and industries that rely on oil and gas, with countries heavily dependent on imports expected to face greater pressure. – August 20, 2026