Hamzah urges Madani to use Indonesia as benchmark to review US trade deal terms

 

OPPOSITION leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin has called on the Madani government to immediately re-examine Malaysia’s trade agreement with the United States following Indonesia’s refusal to accept several “problematic” and sovereignty-threatening clauses in its own deal.

Hamzah said Indonesia’s tough stance validates Perikatan Nasional’s long-standing concerns over Articles 3.3 and 5.1.

“When Reuters reported that Indonesia rejected preliminary agreement on several terms because they were seen as overly binding and potentially harmful to Indonesia’s interests and sovereignty, our earlier concerns have proven justified.

“Yet while Indonesia is taking the stand to re-evaluate those terms, the Madani government, in its statement last Wednesday (Dec 10), rejected calls to renegotiate with the United States – even though it is clear that several terms not only bind Malaysia but also raise questions about our national sovereignty,” he said in a statement on Friday (Dec 12).

While Jakarta pushes back against terms seen as overly restrictive, Putrajaya has rejected calls for renegotiation despite risks to national economic autonomy.

PN demands full transparency on whether the same contentious clauses appear in Malaysia’s pact and urges renegotiation if they jeopardise long-term national interests. —  Focus Malaysia