KUALA LUMPUR, April 15 (Xinhua) -- Emerging spillover effects from the global energy crisis are beginning to surface across Malaysia's transport, tourism and labor markets, even as core economic indicators remain broadly stable, Malaysian Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said on Tuesday.
While transport and cargo flows remain largely stable for now, aviation and tourism sectors are showing early signs of strain, with flight cancellations and weaker tourist arrivals from the Middle East already recorded, he said in a briefing.
A total of 55 weekly flights involving six airlines were cancelled between March 23 and 28, while air passenger arrivals from the Middle East are projected to fall by 1.5 million this year, he noted.
He also warned that the full impact on employment could materialize from the second quarter of 2026 if the geopolitical tensions persist, with job losses potentially emerging from June 2026 onwards.
According to him, the crisis is unfolding with a lag effect, where cost pressure is first felt before filtering into job markets and household incomes. ■
