KUALA LUMPUR: The Agreement on Reciprocal Trade Agreement (ART) between Malaysia and the United States has put the country in the middle of a trade standoff between the US and China, claims lawyer Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali.
The lawyer and Pejuang information chief said the situation is concerning and undermines the nation’s sovereignty.
“It is a huge issue, and it seems like we have been placed in the middle. We also have been seen to have chosen a side,” he said, when met outside Bukit Aman on Wednesday (Dec 10).
He added that a total of 139 police reports regarding the agreement, including from Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, were lodged as of Dec 2.
“This is not political but a matter of regional security,” he said.
He added that the police reports had not led to any investigations and that the office of Dr Mahathir had been informed that the former premier would have his statement recorded as one of the complainants in the matter.
Malaysia and the US signed the ART on Oct 26 during the 47th Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur.
The agreement is a US proposal to renegotiate tariffs on Malaysia from 25% to 19%, under Executive Order 14257 issued by US President Donald Trump on April 2.
