KUALA LUMPUR — The Cabinet has agreed to establish a communication command centre under the National Economic Action Council to strengthen coordination of the government’s response to the global energy crisis.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said the centre, to be led by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, would streamline public messaging and ensure consistent updates are delivered to the rakyat.
“The cabinet have agreed to establish a communication command centre to coordinate aspects of communication, the government’s response and steps to take, as well as the relevant bodies, especially regarding the global energy crisis,” he said during a press conference today.
He said the command centre would also conduct daily press briefings to provide the latest updates and address any emerging developments.
At the same time, Deputy Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan and Economy Minister Akmal Nasir are scheduled to meet the Parliamentary Select Committee on finance and economy to brief members on the government’s current position.
“They will convey the government’s views and actions on the issues of economy and finance, as a result of what is happening in West Asia and the impact on the country’s economy,” Fahmi said.
On regional matters, Fahmi said the Cabinet had been informed that all Asean-related meetings this year would be held virtually following a briefing by the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
“There will be no face-to-face or physical meetings,” he said.
The government is also examining the possible expansion of work-from-home arrangements across the public sector, beyond just Putrajaya.
“One of the things being investigated is the implementation of public sector policies, not only for Putrajaya, but also for other regions,” Fahmi said.
He added that private companies had also been encouraged to assess flexible work arrangements, noting that some firms have maintained such practices since the pandemic.
Fahmi also warned of a rise in online misinformation linked to the ongoing crisis, saying dozens of fake news cases had surfaced in recent days.
“In the past three days, there have been a number of fake news circulating on social media platforms. As of midnight, a total of 96 cases have been confirmed by the MCMC,” he said.
Some of the false content involved the misuse of logos from established media organisations, including Astro Awani and Buletin TV3.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has since opened investigations into several individuals.
“The MCMC has issued a statement that three individuals who have been confirmed to have been infected are being investigated under Section 233 of the Multimedia and Communication Act,” Fahmi added. – April 1, 2026