KUALA LUMPUR: PAS Information Chief, Ahmad Fadhli Shaari, asserted that the latest admission by the Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, regarding the government’s attempt to review the Reciprocal Tariff Agreement (ART) with the United States proves that the administration has been acting hastily and in a kelam kabut manner from the very beginning.
This came after the MITI Minister confirmed in Episode 178 of the Keluar Sekejap podcast that the government is reconsidering at least one clause in the ART, which has been criticised for undermining national sovereignty. The clarification followed Khairy Jamaluddin’s comparison between Clause 5.1 in Malaysia’s ART and the Cambodian agreement, which contains explicit safeguards for Cambodia’s sovereignty.
“To be honest, we are trying. It hasn’t been ratified yet. We are in the process now,” said Tengku Zafrul, adding that the amendment process could take up to 60 days once all legal aspects are finalised.
Commenting on the matter, Ahmad Fadhli said the acknowledgement only confirms what Perikatan Nasional MPs have repeatedly raised — that the ART was signed without thorough scrutiny and without fully considering its implications on Malaysia’s strategic policy.
“After PN MPs were criticised for supposedly questioning civil servants’ work, and after various parties pointed out that this agreement is lopsided, the government is now admitting that there is indeed a clause that threatens national sovereignty,” he said.
According to him, the government’s handling of the agreement reflects the weakness of the current leadership.
“That is why we say the ART is a sell-out agreement. Sign first, think later. This is the biggest year-end sale in history, and carried out by the country’s own leaders.”
He stressed that the development proves the current administration deserves to be labelled a Kelam Kabut government.
HARAKAHDAILY 17 November 2025
