PUTRAJAYA: Claims that the trade agreement with the United States (US) compromises the country's sovereignty are untrue, says Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.
The Communications Minister said every trade agreement signed by the government undergoes a comprehensive review and scrutiny process, including by the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC), to ensure that the nation's interests and sovereignty are fully safeguarded.
"The Cabinet will never agree to any arrangement that compromises the country's sovereignty. All agreements are first scrutinised by the AGC. The function, the duty of the AGC is to advise the government," he said.
"How can we (Malaysia) go to the extent of compromising the country's sovereignty? This is impossible," he said when addressing the Communications Ministry's Jasamu Dikenang 2025 event here Wednesday (Oct 29).
Also present were Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching, Communications Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa, and Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) chief executive officer Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin.
Fahmi stressed that accusations alleging the government was compromising the country's sovereignty through the trade agreement were not only baseless but could also cause confusion among the public.
"The country's sovereignty has never been compromised. When we lost Pulau Batu Puteh, it was a very regrettable moment for me," he said.
"The only time it (our sovereignty) was challenged was when we lost Pulau Batu Puteh, and that was very regrettable. Other than that, it has never happened," he said.
He also advised the public not to spread unverified information, but instead to seek clarification from official government sources to prevent confusion.
At the 47th Asean Summit and Related Summits last Sunday, Malaysia and the US signed a comprehensive agreement to strengthen bilateral economic ties, expand market access and enhance supply chain resilience.
Through the agreement, Malaysia agreed to provide greater preferential market access for United States (US) industrial goods, including chemicals, machinery and electrical equipment, metals and passenger vehicles, as well as agricultural products such as dairy, horticultural produce, poultry and rice.
In return, the US will maintain tariffs at 19% on Malaysian goods, while selected products listed under Potential Tariff Adjustments for Aligned Partners will enjoy a 0% reciprocal tariff rate.
Malaysia also agreed not to impose any bans or export quotas on essential minerals and rare earth elements to the US, and will work with American companies to ensure stability and certainty in expanding the country's production capacity.
The 47th Asean Summit and Related Summits, which concluded on Tuesday (Oct 28), marked Malaysia's fifth time chairing the regional bloc since its establishment in 1967, following previous chairmanships in 2015, 2005, 1997 and 1977.
The summits also signified the culmination of Malaysia's Asean chairmanship 2025, ahead of the Philippines' assumption of the chairmanship on Jan 1, 2026. - Bernama
