KUALA LUMPUR, April 2 -- The government must have a structured stimulus plan on standby, ready to be activated if the global energy crisis continues to exert pressure on Malaysia's economy and the people's cost of living, said former minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Aziz

In a statement posted on social media, the former minister of investment, trade, and industry stressed that the current global conflict has created a "new normal" that will place sustained pressure on energy costs and supply chains for a prolonged period.

He said that while additional measures may not be required today, the government must be prepared to act swiftly when circumstances change.

"The next stimulus or additional initiative need not necessarily be large, b...