GOVT SETS UP COMMUNICATIONS COMMAND CENTRE TO COORDINATE RESPONSE TO ENERGY CRISIS - FAHMI

KUALA LUMPUR, April 1 (Bernama) -- The Cabinet has agreed to establish a Communications Command Centre linked to the National Economic Action Council (MTEN) to coordinate the government’s response to the global energy crisis triggered by the conflict in West Asia.

Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the centre will be chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, with daily briefings or media updates scheduled around 4 pm.

“The centre will coordinate government communications, particularly on responses and measures taken by the government and related agencies, to ensure consistent updates are delivered to the public,” he said at a weekly press conference today.

The minister said the Cabinet also discussed follow-up measures to address the economic impact of current global developments.

He said Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan and Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir will meet the Parliamentary Select Committee on Finance and Economy to present the government’s views and planned measures.

“This is to outline the government’s strategies on economic and financial issues arising from the tensions in West Asia and their impact on the national economy amid the global energy crisis,” he said.

Meanwhile, Fahmi said all ASEAN summits and related meetings in the Philippines this year will be held virtually, with no physical sessions except those involving heads of government.

He added that among the earliest meetings under the ASEAN Summit framework will be those involving health ministers, also to be conducted online.

-- BERNAMA