Yesterday (27 November), it was reported that former Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, filed a police report after claiming that the Government is compromising national sovereignty by signing a reciprocal trade agreement with the United States (US) and granting American companies Bumiputera privileges.
Now, Investment, Trade and Industry Minister (MITI) Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz is firing back.
Tengku Zafrul responds to Mahathir’s claims
Taking to his Facebook page, Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz questioned Mahathir’s beliefs while providing clarifications. He wrote, “Tun M, please state the clause that gives Bumiputera status to US companies!”
“Alhamdulillah, I have just finished briefing and discussing with the Special Parliamentary Caucus Meeting on the Malaysia-US Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART). It is important for me to emphasise that ART is NOT a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). It is a critical safeguard mechanism to ensure that our major export market access in the US, worth almost RM200 billion, remains secure,” said the MITI Minister.
He added that the move is to protect 1.1 million Malaysian jobs and over 7,700 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from the risk of unilateral tariffs.
“ART maintains the current tariff at 19% and protects key sectors such as palm oil, cocoa and medical devices from arbitrary increases. This is our global competitiveness guarantee!”
“I challenge him to present a specific clause that grants Bumiputera privileges to US companies”
He went on to highlight that Bumiputera privileges were protected during the negotiations and insisted that Tun Dr Mahathir’s claims are false.
Tengku Zafrul asserted,
“I have also corrected several wild allegations, including the slander from Tun Mahathir that ART grants Bumiputera status to US companies,”
“Throughout the negotiations, Bumiputera rights have been one of the red lines that we have always protected. Bumiputera rights have not been affected at all in ART. I challenge Tun Mahathir to present a specific clause that grants American companies Bumiputera status in ART!”
What do you think about this? Do feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section.
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