The Reciprocal Trade Agreement (ART 2025) between Malaysia and the United States (US) has been confirmed to contain a clause that allows the country to legally terminate or withdraw if necessary.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim explained that the matter was seriously refined by the Cabinet before the agreement was signed.
He stressed that Malaysia did not bow to any foreign power, but rather signed the agreement in the interests of investment and trade that would benefit the country.
Anwar also rejected claims that ART 2025 contained dozens of clauses that were binding on Malaysia or were colonial in nature. According to him, each provision of the agreement had been carefully reviewed and any form of termination could be done through the legal procedures that had been set.
He also called on all Members of Parliament not to evaluate the agreement biasedly.
He said that Malaysia needed to maintain good relations with all major countries, including the United States and China, for the sake of economic stability and the country’s future.
Anwar also stressed that the government is always open to providing further explanations in Parliament to ensure that every policy and agreement signed is based on the interests of the people and national sovereignty.
