The escalating conflict in West Asia, which is causing rising oil prices, may also increase the cost of food for Malaysians.

This is because the closure of the Strait of Hormuz could disrupt the supply of fertiliser, as the narrow sea passage accounts for about 50 percent of global urea exports, 50 percent of sulphur - a key input in phosphate fertiliser production - and roughly a third of ammonia shipments.

Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) professor Fatimah Arshad told Malaysiakini that this disruption would affect not just the prices of fruits, vegetables, and rice, but also...