A protest against rising fuel prices in Kuala Lumpur on April 4 drew barely a dozen people, a limp showing for an event that had generated outsized noise online and promises of political backing. On the steps outside the Sogo department store—a traditional focal point for Malaysian dissent—the small group held a banner calling for the restoration of diesel subsidies and lower petrol prices. The streets, it turned out, were far less animated than social media timelines.
The disconnect between digital anger and physical mobilization was highlighted in a single moment of irony. As a protest leader attempted to rally the crowd by asking who was to blame for the crisis, passers-by shouted back: “war, Iran, Hormuz.”
The passers-by had been reading the news. Global fuel prices have climbed following tensions in the Middle East, specifically involving the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow maritime artery that carries approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil supply. Yet, within Malaysia, much of the political anger is being directed at Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, making him a convenient target for a crisis shaped by forces far beyond the control of Putrajaya.
For many citizens, the current frustration is not just about the price at the pump, but about a perceived breach of trust. Malaysians are losing patience with leaders amid fuel crisis conditions, fueled by memories of political promises that now seem out of reach.
The weight of past promises
Fuel pricing has long been a potent political weapon in Malaysia, and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is no stranger to using it. During his years as Opposition Leader, Anwar frequently claimed that if his coalition won, the price of fuel would drop. Old videos of these assertions have resurfaced on social media, serving as a digital indictment for a public now facing higher costs.
The Prime Minister has dismissed such criticism as “illiterate,” arguing that his previous statements were made during a period of low global oil prices and cannot be applied to today’s volatile geopolitical climate. “If facts are ignored, all that remains is petty politics that fool the people,” Anwar said on April 4.
Despite the rhetoric, the government continues to maintain one of the region’s most generous fuel subsidy regimes to shield the public from the full brunt of global volatility. Petrol remains capped at RM1.99 per litre, while diesel prices—which affect only about 7 per cent of vehicles—have been partially liberalized in Peninsular Malaysia.
However, the fiscal burden has become unsustainable. To manage the cost, the government tightened access in April, cutting subsidized petrol quotas from 300 litres to 200 litres per person.
| Metric | Pre-Conflict Period | Current Crisis Period |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Subsidy Bill | RM700 million | RM6 billion |
| Subsidized Petrol Quota | 300 litres / person | 200 litres / person |
| Petrol Price (RON95) | Capped at RM1.99 | Capped at RM1.99 |
A perception of ‘Dua Darjat’
While the government urges citizens to tighten their belts, the Prime Minister’s own movements have drawn scrutiny. In recent weeks, a series of official trips has left Anwar on the defensive. He defended a March 27 visit to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta as a necessity for national security, noting the trip lasted only three hours.
Other trips have proven harder to justify to a frustrated public. On April 5, Anwar took a helicopter trip to view Pedra Branca in the Singapore Strait. Photos of the visit, shared on X by Law Minister Azalina Othman Said, sparked backlash from users questioning the necessity of the flight during an economic squeeze.
That same weekend, the Prime Minister traveled to Kuantan to launch a government-linked convenience store and visited his alma mater in Kuala Kangsar, Perak. Combined, these trips covered more than 1,300km—roughly the distance an average Malaysian travels in half a month using subsidized petrol—not including the official motorcades and security convoys that accompany every visit.
The frustration is not limited to the administration. In the same week, chief ministers from four opposition-held states—Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan, and Terengganu—led a convoy of approximately 1,000 motorcyclists through Kuala Terengganu as part of the International Conference for Muslim Unity. Nurul Izzah Anwar, deputy president of Parti Keadilan Rakyat and daughter of the Prime Minister, called the convoy an excessive use of fuel, stating, “Here’s not just insensitivity. It reflects a worrying failure to set priorities.”
Kedah Menteri Besar Sanusi Md Nor countered by pointing back to the Prime Minister’s helicopter ride, arguing that the cost of aviation fuel far exceeds that of a thousand motorcycles.
The leadership gap
This clash of priorities has revived memories of “dua darjat”—a Malay term for double standards. The phrase gained prominence during the Covid-19 lockdowns when politicians were caught flouting the particularly rules they imposed on the public, such as a deputy health minister who was filmed having a communal meal at a school in April 2020 despite ministry guidelines.
For those on the ground, the disconnect is visceral. Sufian Mohd Naim, a 42-year-old e-hailing driver, believes the crisis is as much about optics as it is about economics. He pointed to Second Finance Minister Amir Hamzah Azizan, who has preached prudence while traveling in high-profile motorcades.
“I am on the road every day and I see their motorcades—police outriders, three, four cars—forcing people aside,” Sufian said. “When are they going to change to a more prudent and simple lifestyle?”
To curb spending, Anwar has already banned ministerial Hari Raya open houses and restricted overseas travel for government officials. On March 7, he urged the public to be smart about managing the economy, warning that the duration of the current economic instability remains unpredictable.
The government’s next major checkpoint will be the upcoming quarterly economic review, where the administration is expected to provide updates on the sustainability of fuel quotas and potential further adjustments to the subsidy framework. Whether these technical fixes can bridge the widening gap between the leadership’s lifestyle and the public’s reality remains to be seen.
Do you feel the government is doing enough to manage the fuel crisis, or is the disconnect too wide? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
