No toll for Malaysian vessels in Strait of Hormuz, says Loke

SHAH ALAM (March 31): Transport Minister Anthony Loke has confirmed that Malaysian vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing regional conflict will not be subjected to any toll charges.

He said the matter was conveyed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during the National Economic Action Council (MTEN) meeting held in Putrajaya this morning.

“Iran’s Ambassador to Malaysia, Valiollah Mohammadi Nasrabadi, has informed us that Malaysia is regarded as a friendly nation with strong diplomatic ties, and no toll is being imposed on Malaysian vessels. The Prime Minister also shared this at the MTEN meeting,” he told reporters after attending a mock cheque presentation ceremony at Sekolah Menengah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina Chan Hwa here today.

On the impact of the West Asia conflict on the domestic aviation sector, Loke said there are currently no major disruptions apart from rising fuel costs and the ministry is holding regular engagements with industry players to ensure the situation remains under control.

“Some airlines have indicated they may rationalise their operations, including merging flights to improve efficiency. If load factors are low, they will need to reduce services on certain routes,” he said, adding that such measures are temporary to help airlines manage higher jet fuel costs.

On the shipping sector, Loke said discussions are ongoing between the government and industry stakeholders to introduce a more structured and standardised surcharge mechanism to ensure fair and sustainable pricing.

He noted that the Malaysia Shipowners Association (MASA) had presented its views to the MTEN, including a call for better management and governance of surcharges.

Meanwhile, Loke said no projects under the ministry will be halted, but priorities may be adjusted in line with the Prime Minister’s directive to ensure projects with the greatest benefit to the people and the economy are implemented first.

“At this point, there are no budget cuts and no projects are being stopped. However, we are closely monitoring the situation and prioritising projects that deliver the most value to the country,” he said.

Earlier in his speech, Loke encouraged simple measures such as better travel planning, carpooling and the use of public transport to help ensure stable energy supply. He also urged the corporate sector to adopt more efficient energy practices.

He said the government is currently operating in a “crisis mode”, with MTEN meetings to be held weekly.

“Although Malaysia is an oil-producing country, we still depend on global markets and external supply. The government’s focus now is to ensure fuel supply remains stable,” he said.

Loke added that a meeting with e-hailing operators will be held to explore initiatives such as carpooling to improve fuel efficiency.

He cautioned that the ongoing conflict could have prolonged economic effects, potentially lasting between six and 24 months depending on its duration. – Bernama