KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia’s monthly fuel subsidy bill surged to as high as RM7.5 billion in April amid rising global oil prices triggered by tensions in West Asia, Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said.

He said the subsidy bill rose sharply from about RM700 million a month in January and February to RM5 billion in March before peaking in April, although it has since moderated as oil prices eased.

“But now with prices coming down and moderating, we’re probably looking at about RM3.5 billion–RM4 billion of subsidies,” he said at a session titled “Balancing Fiscal Focus with External Risks” at Invest Malaysia 2026 here today.

Amir Hamzah said the government’s immediate priority was ensuring uninterrupted fuel supply to support economic stability.“The economy cannot function if there’s no supply,” he said.

He said Malaysia had so far avoided supply disruptions partly because it is a net energy exporter, while national institutions and oil companies were able to secure supplies through global networks.