Pas Folly On The Subject Of Sovereignty

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PAS says it is considering hosting a mass rally and filing a judicial review to oppose the recent trade deal which Malaysia signed with the United States (US).
Its information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari said the party would explore the options available as it aims to halt what it views as the government’s “compromise on national sovereignty”, noting that the agreement has drawn growing criticism from scholars, academics and legal experts.
The measures under consideration include filing a judicial review, organising forums with professionals and academics to expose the agreement’s implications, and mobilising a mass rally—‘Turun Anwar 2.0’—to defend national sovereignty.
The fundamental questions one should ask is can one protect a nation’s sovereignty by merely opposing a particular trade deal. When a nation like Malaysia has an open trading system there is bound to be risk associated with the changing economic trajectory that would require certain agreements to be made.
The history of trade between Malaysia and the US does affect Malaysia’s sovereignty, but not in a way that undermines its independence but rather through economic interdependence and geopolitical considerations.
This interdependence means that Malaysia’s economy is subject to fluctuations and policy changes in the US, such as tariffs, which can impact its export-oriented economy.
While trade with the US has been crucial for Malaysia’s economic growth, it also makes the country vulnerable to US economic policies, which can create challenges but also present opportunities for Malaysia to benefit from shifting supply chains, as seen in the case of trade wars between the US and China.
It is in this context and the attitude towards trade by the American administration under President Donald Trump that that brought about the Madani Government’s current agreement with the US.
The only way Malaysia can safeguard its sovereignty in the long run is by being able to become economically self-reliant, through mastering science and technology, strategic diplomatic initiatives,preserving its national identity and natural resources.
For example, Malaysia’s strategic diplomatic initiative in participating in BRICS creates a balanced perspective in safeguarding its trade sovereignty.
The question is what has Perikatan Nasional (PN) and PAS in particular contributed to the above mentioned strategies to protect the country’s national sovereignty?
PAS’ political approach to divide Malaysians through its polarising ethno-religious politics weakens national sovereignty more than the trade agreement with the US that Malaysia can always withdraw from through strategic choices.
Seeing its own fellow Malaysians as threats would certainly invite opportunistic foreign powers to take advantage of a divided society and interfere in the country’s affairs
Therefore let’s understand national sovereignty in its true sense instead of deceiving the rakyat based only on a trade agreement that does not tell the whole story of Malaysia’s historical dependents on foreign investment and technology from other countries that has made the nation interdependent and certainly doesn’t undermine its national sovereignty. 
Ronald Benjamin is a human resources practitioner based in Ipoh. He is currently secretary of the Association for Community and Dialogue.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of  MMKtT
- Focus Malaysia.

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