He said the government was looking for a way to help people understand the actual situation without triggering panic or fostering complacency.

“This is the government’s main challenge in communicating the reality on the ground,” he said, adding that the government did not want the public to be in denial about the impact of an international conflict.

Earlier today, it was reported that the US oil benchmark rebounded above US$100 a barrel after a lack of breakthrough in peace talks between the US and Iran.

In March, transport minister Loke Siew Fook said the government was operating in “crisis mode” in response to the war in the Middle East, which is triggering severe global economic and energy disruptions.

Loke said then that although most Malaysians might not yet feel the full impact of the war on their daily lives, the situation should not be taken lightly.

Last week, deputy prime minister Fadillah Yusof said Malaysians could start feeling the impact of rising fuel and transport costs within the next two months, even if a ceasefire is brokered.

He said global energy supply would take time to stabilise due to severe damage to the oil and energy infrastructure, while higher logistics and insurance costs were likely to hike up prices across multiple sectors.