ABSTRACT:
This study examines media narratives on the Malaysian palm oil industry published from 28 February to 20 April 2026 during the intensified conflict involving the United States (US), Israel, and Iran. The study identified five main themes through an assessment of 487 news articles, editorials, and opinion pieces published in English and Malay by private and government-linked media organisations. The study used a structured coding framework to assess the themes, and the findings revealed statistics such as economic implications (43.1%), political stance (27.7%), national security (16.4%), sustainability (8.6%) and humanitarian aspect (4.1%). Government-linked media houses often depict stability and assure the public that the situation is under control and the government is working on the issue. The language affiliated/used by media houses also showed slight differences, with the English media focused more on financial analysis and global market trends, while the Malay media outlets discussed more about community concerns such as food security, livelihoods, and national sovereignty. Overall, the media portrayed palm oil as an essential national commodity that contributes significantly to the nation, despite trade disruptions caused by the conflict. This study informs readers how media capture and narrate news in ways that may influence society at large. Therefore, managing communication is as important as devising financial and business strategies in this critical era.