Dr M Invites Pm Zafrul To Attend Bumi Convention And Explain Trade Deal

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The Malay People's Secretariat, led by Dr Mahathir Mohamad, is ready to invite Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz to attend a convention to discuss Article 153 of the Federal Constitution, which touches on bumiputera privileges.
The convention, he added, would also provide them with an opportunity to explain the Malaysia-US reciprocal trade agreement to the attendees.
“Even Umno can (attend), if the prime minister wants to come, he can.
“If Zafrul, who is knowledgeable about this (trade deal), wants to come and give an explanation, we are ready to welcome him,” he said at a press conference held at the Perdana Leadership Foundation today.
The convention will be held on Dec 13 at the Tunku Abdul Rahman Hall located at the Malaysia Tourism Centre, Kuala Lumpur.
Inked on Oct 26 between Anwar and US President Donald Trump during the latter’s visit to Kuala Lumpur for the Asean Summit, the agreement includes provisions encouraging closer alignment with Washington on national security matters such as export controls, sanctions, and investment screening.
US President Donald Trump (left) and PM Anwar Ibrahim during the Asean Summit in OctoberThe trade pact also grants preferential access for American goods and services, while the US has exempted certain Malaysian exports from Trump’s 19 percent reciprocal tariff.
In return, Malaysia is expected to observe US trade restrictions tied to economic or national security concerns, align itself with US export controls and sanctions on sensitive technologies, and prevent Malaysian firms from facilitating sanctions evasion.
Military deal
Earlier, Mahathir reiterated his concerns about the trade deal and the military agreement signed by the governments. The second agreement was signed four days after the trade deal.
It is understood that Mahathir was referring to the defence cooperation agreement between Malaysia and the US, which was signed on Oct 31.
Defence Minister Khaled Nordin was earlier reported as saying that the agreement was an important step in strengthening bilateral military ties and enhancing regional security.
“Previously, our cooperation was carried out on an ad-hoc basis through joint exercises, officer exchanges, and participation in US support programmes to strengthen national defence capacity,” The Star reported Khaled as saying.
‘Dangerous agreements’
Claiming to have received "a lot of new information" concerning the agreements, Mahathir alleged that the government is concealing its contents from the public.
“I received a lot of new information that the agreements are more dangerous than we thought.
“The trade deal indicates that we have become a satellite to the US because we are involved up to the military level and in US foreign policies.
"That's what we want to know - what its contents are, and what we need to do next,” the centenarian said. - Mkini

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