Ts Rushdi Abdul Rahim
President and Chief Executive Officer,
Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT)
We used to consider black swans as rare, once‑in‑a‑ generation anomalies. COVID‑19 shattered that illusion. And now, as the Iran conflict causes ripples through global energy markets, we are forced to confront an uncomfortable truth: black swans no longer arrive alone. They flock. The post‑pandemic world is not simply turbulent; it is structurally unstable. Systems that once felt distant and decoupled now behave like a single, tightly wound web. A virus in Wuhan shuts down semiconductor lines in Penang. A drone strike in the Strait of Hormuz pushes up electricity tariffs in Kuala Lumpur. A war in Europe reshapes global food prices. The world has become a theatre of cascading disruptions. For Malaysia, this is not an abstract geopolitical drama. It is a direct challenge to our energy security, economic resilience, and long‑term development trajectory. The Iran conflict is a reminder that global energy flows remain vulnerable, and that Malaysia, despite being an energy producer, remains deeply exposed to external shocks. However, disruptions, if approached with foresight, can become catalysts. They compel us to confront blind spots, rethink assumptions and redesign systems for resilience. The question is not whether the world will continue to surprise us. It will. The real question is whether we choose to be reactive passengers or proactive navigators. To navigate this new era, Malaysia requires a different kind of strategic lens, one that embraces uncertainty rather than fears it. Foresight is not about predicting the next crisis; it is about preparing for multiple futures. It is about designing strategies that remain robust even when the world behaves unpredictably. To illustrate this, consider a simple scenario matrix, that maps Malaysia’s energy future across two critical uncertainties:
Energy is the backbone of our economy. It is also the domain most exposed to global volatility. If we fail to rethink energy security now, we risk being perpetually reactive, always catching up, never shaping outcomes. If we embrace foresight, Malaysia can turn this decade of turbulence into a decade of transformation.We can build an energy system that is resilient, diversified and future-ready. We can position urselves not as victims of global shocks, but as architects of regional stability.Black swans may flock but with foresight, Malaysia can learn not just to survive them, but to navigate them with confidence.
