Much would also depend on the composition of Trump’s Cabinet members, according to Mustafa Izzuddin, a fellow at the Yusof Ishak Institute under the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (Iseas).
Writing in Singapore’s The Straits Times, he said: “If Trump moves to appoint individuals who are anti-Islam – such as Mike Flynn, who has called Islam a cancer and now looks set to become national security adviser – then it may further inflame the tension between the US and Muslim countries.
“With creeping Islamisation in Malaysia’s domestic politics, the people Trump appoint may compel Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak’s government to be cautious when dealing with the US,” Mustafa said.
The prime minister has to balance Malaysia’s economic interests against the political impact at home should the US move in the direction of Trump’s rhetoric during his election campaign, including having a registry for Muslims and barring Muslims from entering the US.
The second factor, according to Mustafa, is the more anticipated protectionist move by a Trump administration.
“Should Trump’s protectionist policy be enacted, it could adversely impact Malaysian exports,” he said.
This is especially so as the US is a key export market for Malaysia, worth around RM73.7 billion last year. The US is Malaysia’s third-largest trading partner.
Mustafa, who is also associate editor on Contemporary Southeast Asia issues in Iseas, said the impact on the second factor could however, be cushioned by recent events.
“If Trump’s policies hurt trade, Malaysia may be compelled to make up the shortfall by deepening trade relations with other partners. In this respect, Najib’s recent China visit to further strengthen Sino-Malaysian economic relations is prescient,” he said.
Summarising the prospects in trade between the two countries, Mustafa said Malaysia’s best hope lay in Trump’s anti-Muslim and trade protectionism rhetoric not being translated into official policy.
“A good outcome would be for the current state of its ties with the US to be stuck in neutral after the transition to the new administration.”