Beyond The Constraint Of Donald Trump S Tariff

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"My earth is spacious" - Quran Surah Ankabut Verse 56

On April 2nd, 2025, POTUS Donald Trump announced his reciprocal tariff strategy in a White House Rose Garden ceremony. 
Since the day dubbed by Trump as Liberalisation Day to liberate American from being "cheated and ripped off" by other countries and instant return to manufacturing, countries dependent on the US for export revenue turned nervous, and worried on its implication to their respective economy. 
Vietnam and India seen to panic and were first to concede to the US. There were commentators praising the two countries for their swift action. 
Its a classic case of tunnel vision mentality, which intensely focus on a single goal or aspect of a situation, while neglecting or ignoring other important factors or possibilities. 
And it is also a myopic snapshot view unable to see beyond the visible horizon. 
As an entreport relying on import for sourcing and export for revenue, Singapore reacted the same to this change in attitude by their important Western allies. Perhaps it was a political ploy of PAP to apply fear factor on the voters to get reelected.  
Not a US vs China choice 

Nevertheless, Malaysia should not be expected to follow the same path taken and the Prime Minister made a mockery for not getting the call from Trump. The US is a certainly major FDI to Malaysia and Malaysia has a surplus merchandise trade, however, they enjoy surplus in services trade. 
It should neither appease one party and provoke the other. Nor is it as one anglophile Malaysian advocated to not trust the Uighar oppresser, communist and reminded of the 9-dash line dispute during the excitement of Xi Jinpeng official visit to Malaysia. 
That is willingness to submit to the dominance of the neo-colonialist West, staunch supporter of Israel and opium traders of Qing dynasty China. 
For one, China has moved from purely communist ideology to a blend of Marxist-Leninist and nationalism. 
China's approach to economic development approach is reflected in the words of Xi Jinpeng, "Whether a cat is black or white makes no difference. As long as it catches mice, it is a good cat." The importance of results over ideology allows for free enterprise i.e. capitalism


China, the main adversary to the US in this tariff war, is Malaysia's biggest trading partner and both financier and constructor of major infrastructures of the country

The solution out of this difficult choice, in which part of the West retaliation is the excuses conjured up to deny China's COMAC aircraft from entering the market, seemed insurmountable and depressing. 
There are Malaysians panicking and advocating to follow the Vietnamese, Indian, and Singaporean. Beg to differ, the option is not necessarily a snapshot of choice between the US or China. 
Surah Ankabut

For  Muslims and humanity at large, they should seek comfort and guidance from the Quran in Surah Ankabut Verse 56, below: 
يَٰعِبَادِيَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِنَّ أَرۡضِي وَٰسِعَةٞ فَإِيَّـٰيَ فَٱعۡبُدُونِ"Yā ʿibādiya alladhīna āmanū inna arḍī wāsiʿatun fa iyyāya faʿbudū."
One translation that almost accurately encapsulate the intended meaning of  "ibādiya" reads: "O My servants who believe, indeed My earth is spacious, so worship Me alone."
This verse came down in a passage addressing the early Muslims who suffered persecution in Makkah. It is frequently cited in discussions about religious freedom, exile, and spiritual priorities. 
And, it is also a reminder that material attachments (to land, wealth, nation) should never supersede devotion to Allah. 
In Paradise, Allah prepared for those who feed others, who speak well, who pray and fast continually, and who stand in prayer at night while people are asleep. And, put their trust in Allah in all their affairs, spiritual and worldly alike. 
It serves as a spiritual message for those under religious repression or in conflict zones: Allah’s earth is vast, and faith must be protected. 
Migration

On September 27, 622, prophet Muhammad completes his Hijrah, or “flight,” from Mecca to Medina to escape persecution. In Medina, Muhammad built the followers of Islam, and organised it into a socio-political community. 
The Lebanese diaspora is one of the most remarkable global migration stories. Fleeing oppression, economic hardship and conflict in Lebanon, the waves of migration from the late 19th century till the present created a diaspora of 14 million living outside of Lebanon. 

They made their remarkable entrepreneurial, family network, cultural, and political presence in Brazil, US, South America, Europe and Australia. They remain connected to the motherland and their remittances are crucial to the Lebanese economy

The same goes for Indian, Filipino, Indonesian and Chinese diaspora. The most significant phenomenon is the Chinese diaspora of the 80s, which returned to develop China to what it is today. 

Digital Minister, Gobind Singh Deol expressed concern for the 1.86 brain drain due to insufficient high paying job to retain the talents. The snapshot is to blame it as failure to cultivate, but that require time and money to resolve

Looking at India and fast forward, it may turned out to be a blessing for the future. 
Palestinian conflict
In February, Trump announced plan to re-develop Gaza into the "Riviera of the Middle East". It would require the removal of approximately 2 million Palestinians to neighboring lands and removal of over 50 million tonnes of debris and unexploded ordnance

There was an international outcry to the plan as it was dubbed as ethnic cleansing and the contravention of the Geneva Convention. 
Not to downplay the courage and determination of the Palestinians to defend their homeland, but God's earth is spacious. Since the days of Prophet Moses and perhaps till endtime will the conflict in the region wane. A tactical retreat for survival need be considered

If Trump wants the small real estate badly, the Palestinian could negotiate for the option to migrate to the US to add to plan for special refugee program or temporary protected status or third-country resettlement. 

Palestinians are resilient. Despite hardships, the 7-8 million Palestinians abroad in the Middle East, Gulf States, Europe and Americas excelled as academics, doctors, engineers, and entrepreneurs

Temporary migration could solve their present refugee status, and statelessness. Palestinians have a strong national identity and sense of nationalism. They could spring them back to prominance. 
The Palestinian are not the only nation without a country or in this case, to lose a country. So was the Kurds. Only Japan exist as a homogeneous nation state. 
Trump and the American voters may not agree to any mass migration of Palestinian, so he will have to offer incentives or an economic deal to keep the Gazan in Gaza

Progress and development    

The spiritual aspect of this verse of Surah Ankabut is not restrictive in its interpretation. 
One only need be reminded that the golden age of Islam spanning the 8th to the 15th centuries, was a period of significant scientific, cultural, trade and economic advancement

It was driven by pious clergymen out of the religious conviction for Tawhid (oneness of God) and intellectual curiosity for knowledge as part of worship. The pursuit of economic progress and development in nation building development is as much an ibadah as prostrating in prayers. 
If it is restrictive and challenging within the Malaysian shores and borders, the earth is spacious and look beyond Malaysia

The PAS states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah and Perlis, rightfully or purely political rhetorics, complained for the lack of financial assistance from the Unity Government-controlled Federal Government and various constraints to develop their state. 

Perhaps they should look beyond their respective state. 
Positioned up north in Peninsular Malaysia, the northern states are culturally, historically, and economically linked, yet have different economic realities, to the Southern Thai Malay-Muslim provinces (Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat)

Recently an American think tank advocated to  emulate the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone for the northern states. Leading to the development of ASEAN rail network and Thai land bridge, there is huge potential for cross-border collaboration that could uplift both communities in smart, and respectful ways.  
In agriculture and halal agro-industries, joint farming cooperatives across the border could be established to exploit Malaysia's global leadership in halal standards to create halal food production hubs for processing plants in fish, rice, and poultry on either side with cross-certification for export to Gulf, Middle East, and OIC countries

There can be the sharing of agricultural research centers for tropical crops. The benefit will be to boost rural incomes, build halal global brands, and empower local farmers with benefit to the Malay Muslim ummah and citizens on both sides

This can be extended into other areas such as SME development,  cross-border trade zones, Islamic and heritage tourism, Islamic finance and microcredit, education, TVET, language and cultural cooperations, and community development


From shared history to shared prosperity, the Malay-Muslim identity can be connected beyond politics or ethnicity, but through sustainable, and respectful economic partnerships. 
It serves to uplift the rural Malay communities on both sides of the divide with the potential to turn it into a dynamic contributors to regional stability and growth.   
Coming back to the fear of Trump's Liberation Day announcement, it's hardly a month and yet Dr Mahathir could commit to predict he will pause all tariff in 3 months. 
What is there to panic and fear for, God's earth is spacious and America is not the only place on earth. 

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