Anwar Ibrahim Reaffirms Malaysia’s Stance on Sovereignty Amid Ongoing Trade Talks with U.S.
Putrajaya, The Gulf Observer: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has issued a firm warning to foreign powers, including the United States, against imposing terms that pressure or undermine Malaysia’s established national policies, asserting that the country will not yield to external interference that crosses its defined “red lines”.
Speaking at a gathering with staff of the Prime Minister’s Department, Anwar underscored that while Malaysia remains committed to open and amicable trade relations with all countries, its sovereignty and domestic policies are non-negotiable.
“Malaysia maintains clear red lines in international negotiations that our national policies must not be interfered with,” he said. “For example, if they (foreign powers) claim our Bumiputera policy is discriminatory, Malaysia firmly says no. The country stands by its accepted and established national policies.”
The Prime Minister emphasized that the government will uphold its principles even in the face of disagreement from major trading partners. “Even if the United States does not agree with our terms, we will stand by our principles. We hope they will agree, but we have already set our red lines,” he added.
Malaysia is currently engaged in intricate trade negotiations with the U.S., addressing issues such as tariffs imposed during the Trump administration. Anwar reiterated that the right to prioritize local companies in government procurement is a key component of Malaysia’s position.
“Our negotiations with the United States are more meticulous and firmer than usual,” he noted, rebuffing criticism directed at the government’s stance on the tariff issue.
Separately, Anwar called on civil servants to disregard negative narratives about the government’s performance, highlighting robust investor confidence and record-breaking investment figures as indicators of Malaysia’s economic health.
“Investment value in 2024 has reached between RM3.7 billion and RM8 billion, including major investments in the electrical and electronics sector and Amazon Web Services, which has committed US$10 billion,” he said, adding that these achievements have received international recognition.
Citing data from the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), Anwar reported that between 2021 and June 2024, a total of 3,494 manufacturing investment projects were approved, of which 3,095 are operational — an implementation rate of 86.4%. He added that the annual realization rate was 90.6% in 2023 and 79.2% in 2024, with 49.8% realized in the first quarter of this year, comprising mainly new projects in their initial stages.
Anwar also pointed to Malaysia’s significant advancement in the IMD World Competitiveness Ranking, where the country rose from 34th to 23rd position — the only nation to climb more than 10 spots. He attributed this leap to strong economic performance and enhanced government efficiency.
“This reflects our continued progress and the growing trust the world has in Malaysia,” he concluded.
