Trade Deal Why Are We Surrendering Rm1 Trillion To Us Ask Hassan Mca Leader

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A PKR lawmaker and MCA leader today separately questioned how heavy commitments Malaysia made under the recently signed trade agreement with the US benefit the country.
Speaking in Parliament, Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim cited figures that the total commitments required from Malaysia to purchase US goods amounted to over RM1 trillion.
This, he said, was as though Malaysia had simply surrendered its wealth to US President Donald Trump.
“What has happened, Tambun (Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim)? For hundreds of years, we defended (our nation), fought the Dutch, Portuguese, and British.
“We are independent, but today Trump comes - the man who destroyed Gaza, Palestine - we welcomed him and we handed him our wealth.
“This is a redistribution of wealth from a poor country, Malaysia, to the US,” he said in a fiery speech while debating Budget 2026.
Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul KarimHe added that he did not know what would happen to him now for speaking up, but said he must make his criticisms known.
The RM1 trillion Hassan cited refers to commitments by Malaysian government-linked companies (GLCs) to purchase US goods, including Boeing planes, liquefied natural gas, coal, and data centre equipment - in addition to investments Malaysia promised to make in the US.
These were outlined in the annexes to the trade agreement Anwar and Trump signed on Sunday.
In return for the various commitments Malaysia made, the US would lock in reciprocal tariff rates at 19 percent while exempting over 1,000 Malaysian exports, including semiconductors and palm oil.
‘Short-term gains outweighed by long-term costs’
MCA vice-president Lawrence Low expressed similar sentiments, demanding more transparency on the deal from the government.
MCA vice-president Lawrence Low“Given the scale of the procurement and the possibility of unequal terms, we urge the government to release the full agreement and related documents at the earliest opportunity. 
“It would be reassuring if these were subject to careful review by Parliament and independent bodies to ensure full transparency,” he said in a statement.
He also cautioned that the short-term benefits of the trade agreement are outweighed by the long-term costs, as being tied up with procurement commitments limits Malaysia’s flexibility to shape its economic future according to its needs.
“Secondly, we should be mindful of what some term ‘digital neo-colonialism’.
“If large-scale data centre and semiconductor procurements come with restrictive conditions, Malaysia could find its options in digital economy policies, artificial intelligence development, and other technological fields increasingly constrained.
“Over time, this could weaken our own capacity for technological innovation and self-reliance,” he added.
Part of the trade deal stipulates that Malaysia must consult the US before entering into any digital trade agreements with another country. - Mkini

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