ISTANBUL

Malaysia said Wednesday that employees of government ministries, agencies, statutory bodies and government-linked companies will work from home starting April 15 to help cushion the impact of what authorities described as a global energy crisis.

"Further details will be announced later. At the same time, I want to stress that the government is taking steps to cushion the impact of the global energy crisis through initiatives to support the people," Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said during a special address Wednesday night, according to Malaysian news outlet Free Malaysia Today.

Anwar said the initiative aims to reduce fuel consumption and help ensure a sustainable national energy supply.

He had earlier advised the private sector to allow remote work arrangements for some employees.

Anwar added that government spending of 4 billion Malaysian ringgit ($993 million) per month to absorb oil price increases is "no small feat."

"However, our ability (to absorb these costs) is surely limited. Look at the experience of other countries," he said, stressing Kuala Lumpur’s efforts to strengthen energy supply security, including diversifying the country’s oil and gas import sources.

Anwar also said that based on his discussions with leaders of Iran, Gulf countries and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, "they expected the situation to get worse before recovery can begin, and that will surely take much longer."

The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20 million barrels of oil pass daily, has been effectively disrupted since early March, driving up global oil prices and raising concerns about prolonged economic pressure.

The US and Israel have struck Iran since Feb. 28, killing more than 1,340 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iran has retaliated with strikes across the region, causing casualties and infrastructure damage.