Malaysia’s hunt for Russian oil tests Anwar’s ‘friends with all’ policy

Malaysia’s search for alternative crude supplies is complicating Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s “friends with all” foreign policy, analysts have said, with the country potentially tapping Russian oil despite Western sanctions against Moscow.On Thursday, oil prices rose again after Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz closed, 103 days after the US-Israel war with Iran began on February 28. Washington has signalled it wants sanction waivers over Russian oil to end “as soon as possible”.Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said on Wednesday that Malaysia was looking at new sources, including Russia and Turkey, after Anwar called for the country to widen its supply options as the Middle East conflict continues to rattle key oil-producing regions.