Anwar said the AGC’s views were sought to ensure provisions in the agreement, referred to as ART, did not contravene the “spirit of the Federal Constitution and domestic laws”.
“The AGC issued its recent statement after having gone through the deal in detail. Please don’t say that it (statement) was political,” Anwar told the Dewan Rakyat.
He was responding to Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Bharu), who wondered if the government would share the AGC’s views on the trade deal with the Cabinet.
Anwar also revealed that the Cabinet “revised” its decisions based on input from the AGC.
His comments come a day after the AGC reassured the public that Malaysia’s sovereignty and national interests remain fully protected under the trade deal.
The AGC said the agreement provides for consultations in good faith between Malaysia and the US on issues related to its implementation, before either party may take action against the other.
Malaysia, it said, also retained the right to terminate the agreement at any time by written notice to the US without needing the US consent, which, it added, safeguarded Malaysia’s sovereignty and protected national interests.
Liew’s remarks accurate in spirit
Separately, Anwar also defended the remarks made by deputy investment, trade, and industry minister Liew Chin Tong at a conference held yesterday that Malaysia had no choice but to enter negotiations with the US over the agreement.
Anwar said Liew’s remarks were prompted by the fact that both Malaysia and the US were not on equal footing.
He went on to say that he himself had voiced his dissatisfaction with US president Donald Trump during a bilateral meeting regarding the 19% reciprocal tariff imposed on Malaysian goods, arguing that it should have been lowered.
Anwar said that Liew may not have articulated his views properly, but it was made “in the right spirit” when taking into account the context.
“If you ask me, we should (say) negotiate, but the deputy minister used the term “forced” to negotiate. It is okay, I will ask him to fine-tune his (comments) a bit.”
Anwar, who is also the finance minister, dismissed claims made by critics of the trade deal that Malaysia has ceded its sovereignty and has become the puppet of the US.
He said Malaysia has always adopted a “give and take” approach in all free trade agreements (FTAs) it signed with other nations.
“Does that make us an American puppet? In that case, we would have never signed the (upgraded) Asean plus China FTA (on Oct 28).”