KUALA LUMPUR, April 21 — Malaysia needs to play a more proactive role in ensuring that the Strait of Malacca remains free from geopolitical confrontation, given its importance as one of the world’s most critical global trade and energy routes.
Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Maritime Studies, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Dr Izyan Munirah Muhammad Zaidin, said the strait is one of the busiest shipping routes in the world.
As of early 2026, the Strait of Malacca remains the primary chokepoint for global oil and container trade, handling approximately 23.2 million barrels of oil per day and contributing around 29 per cent of global maritime oil flow, making it the busiest oil passage in the world.
This route also handles about 40 per cent of global trade, including a significant portion of oil flow from the Middle East to major Asian economies such as China, Japan and South Korea.
She emphasised that the Strait of Malacca must continue to be preserved as a safe, open and stable route for international navigation, particularly in supporting the continuity of global trade and energy flows.
Further commenting, Izyan Munirah said that prolonged geopolitical conflict also creates opportunities for the country to accelerate its green energy transition agenda.
She said the government has taken early steps through the implementation of the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), which is now entering its second phase involving policy implementation and enforcement.
“The main goal for NETR is net zero by 2050, and when this incident occurs, it is actually an opportunity to accelerate the implementation of this policy,” she said.
In addition, the country’s maritime sector is also seen as increasingly ready for a green transition through “green shipping” initiatives, including the use of alternative energy, digitalisation and electrification at major ports such as Port of Tanjung Pelepas and Port Klang.
“This conflict needs to be viewed from a positive angle, where it becomes a catalyst for change towards alternative or green energy,” she added.
