Rafizi Cambodia Got Better Deal From Us Than Malaysia

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Former economy minister Rafizi Ramli said Cambodia got a better deal with the US than Malaysia.
In his "Yang Berhenti Menteri" podcast last night, Rafizi pointed to Section 1 of Article 5.1 on complementary actions for both deals, which requires Malaysia and Cambodia to mirror US trade policies against another country.
However, Cambodia's deal states that the country should regulate the importation of goods or service similar to the US "in a manner that does not infringe on Cambodia’s sovereign interests".
Rafizi noted that Malaysia's agreement lacks a similar term.
"Cambodia clearly says that anything done by that country (US) cannot violate Cambodia's sovereignty.
"If we want to get angry at people who say this agreement weakens efforts to defend (Malaysia's) sovereignty - we have indeed lost to Cambodia.
"Why didn't we negotiate so that the same approach as that taken by Cambodia (was also taken by us)?" the Pandan MP asked.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and US President Donald TrumpInvestment, Trade, and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz earlier defended the clause, stressing that it is only applicable when it also impacts Malaysia.
He was responding to criticism from former trade minister Azmin Ali, who warned that Article 5.1 could hamper Malaysia’s neutrality and ties with other countries, including China.
The common consensus of critics and experts who have reviewed the agreement is that this clause is meant to protect US interests, and not shared interests.
Did cabinet study the deal?
Commenting further, Rafizi asked whether the deal had been checked word-by-word in the cabinet, expressing concern that Malaysia may have rushed it.
He referred to Section 4 of Article 5.3, which restricts Malaysia from purchasing nuclear reactors, fuel rods, or enriched uranium from "certain countries", unless there are no similar alternative suppliers.
Rafizi pointed out that this contradicts the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry’s efforts to adopt nuclear energy, as Malaysia has announced cooperation with Russia, a country considered an adversary of the US.
"Because (the agreement states) 'certain countries'. We know what that means. We can't (buy from) Russia, we can't (buy from) China either.
"That means we can only buy from the US, or maybe France or Britain, those counted as the US' partners in the Western bloc.
"So, what we (Malaysia) have announced previously, what we've started discussing before, what's the (US trade deal's) impact?" he asked.
PSSC should grill Zafrul
Rafizi then urged the relevant parliamentary select committee to press Zafrul on this and ask for the minutes of the cabinet's meeting on the deal to find out whether the ministries had scrutinised it before Malaysia provided its assent.
If he were still the economy minister when the deal had been presented to the cabinet, Rafizi said he would have requested for his disagreement towards signing it to be recorded.
Investment, Trade, and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul AzizMeanwhile, Rafizi said that the deal will no longer be Zafrul's problem soon as the latter's senatorship is due to expire on Dec 2.
"Zafrul only has a month left as investment, trade and industry minister.
"It's not his problem anymore. It's become the country's problem and the problem of the ministers after this," Rafizi added.
The deal was signed by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and US President Donald Trump on Oct 26 during the 47th Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur, with the agreement maintaining Malaysia’s reciprocal tariff rate at 19 percent.
A broad list of goods exempted from reciprocal tariffs under Trump’s executive order in April will also remain in place, including semiconductors and other electronic components that are major Malaysian exports to the US. - Mkini

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