Trunp

Hello, Mr President, trade deal is off—and US imposes 30% tariff on Malaysia

SINCE opposition to the US-Malaysia trade deal is intensifying, there are many ways detractors can undermine the treaty.

Never mind the exit clauses in the reciprocal trade pact because nobody wants to believe that there are such escape exits. The core of the argument is that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has signed not only a business deal but also signed away national sovereignty.

Hence, the only way to resolve this issue is to take firm and decisive action against the Madani (civil and trustworthy) government. But how?

Ask PAS. No problem. Just hold a public rally and call it “Turun Anwar 2”. Maybe, this time people might hit the streets in the millions because they are led to believe that their very survival as a sovereign nation is at stake.

They might stage their protest at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre where the “satanic deal” was signed and screamed their lungs out at Donald Trump alias the Great Devil.

To spice up the event, they can symbolically burn the trade document along with the effigies of the US president.

And, oh, why not also do an energetic, angry, hate-filled fist-pump dance (showing the balled-up fists to Trump) to the music of YMCA to get the crowd worked up to boiling point.

The whole show can end with a grand finale—a march to the US Embassy where political firebrands can sprinkle the ashes of the burnt trade document in front of the heavily guarded compound.

But street protest might not work. Anwar will still be around to ensure the trade agreement is kept intact.

Take another method. How about dragging the case to court to invalidate the “unfair, one-sided” reciprocal trade pact?

Resorting to legal action might work because if the court emphatically rules that the agreement is invalid as it violates the Federal Constitution, the Madani government might have to give in and cancel the deal.

However, there is a roadblock. The Attorney-General’s Chambers, according to Anwar, has reviewed the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) and found it contains “no provisions that contradict the spirit or any articles of the Federal Constitution”.

This puts paid the ambition of some washed-out politicians whose words and deeds on this contentious issue are mere political grandstanding.

Is there another way to bury ART? There is and the answer lies in Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who is itching for another fight with his nemesis.

The twice former premier lost no time in leading a roundtable discussion on ART only to condemn the trade agreement outright and ominously vowing to defend the nation’s sovereignty.

Some political parties and NGOs were with him and one can only conjecture that they are probably planning to head to Istana Negara sooner or later and hand over their 12 joint resolutions which unanimously rejected the agreement.

One of the resolutions inevitably is Mahathir signature style—calling on Anwar to resign yet again to take responsibility for leading Malaysia into a trap where there are no exits.

The centenarian is playing a dangerous game with his bold assertion that the position of the Malay rulers and the rights of the Malays will be affected under ART.

Using the race and religion card must be his desperate attempt to provoke the Malays into action. Perhaps, he is seeking royal intervention to get ART revoked and ultimately see Anwar  making a quick exit from Putrajaya.

Even in Pakatan Harapan (PH) there is some grumbling about the perceived erosion of economic sovereignty. One ally, PKR, is going one step further—its lawmaker Wong Chen wants to convene a meeting on this matter through Parliament’s Special Select Committee on International Relations and Trade.

As committee chair, the Subang MP wants the hearing fixed for Nov 12 to review the whole trade deal. And how does he propose to go about aiming his “friendly fire” at the Madani government?

He will invite representatives from the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI); the US Embassy; economists and business chambers to sit at the hearing and explain the pact and its implications for Malaysia.

It is highly unlikely that Wong will hear dissenting voices from the invited guests. Surely not from MITI or the US Embassy.

There may be some recommendations from the trade chambers and economists to tweak some aspects of the agreement but that will be as far as they will go. They will not cross the line to condemn it and call for its revocation.

In the end, Wong can do nothing much short of calling the PMX himself (who is also his PKR boss) to sit in the “dock”.

However, there is no guarantee that the ART storm has subsided even though all attempts to derail it might not succeed.

If it stays a hot and divisive topic and becomes hotter as the 16th General Election (GE16) approaches, Anwar himself can abrogate the trade pact and, perhaps, dial up Trump.

Anwar: Hello, Mr President, Anwar here.

Trump: Hello! Apa khabar! (he picked up a smattering of Malay during his brief visit to Malaysia last month).

Anwar: Baik. But Mr President, I have some bad news. The trade deal is off.

Trump: What!!?

Anwar: Mr President, sorry, I am facing intense enemy and friendly fire over the deal. My political position is precarious.

Trump: Really? I thought you’re in total control of your country.

Anwar: No, sir. We are a democracy and I listen to the people’s wishes.

Trump: OK! OK! OK! The deal is eh…eh (fumbling for the appropriate Malay word he has memorised)…. batal.

Anwar: Thank you, Mr President, have a nice day.

And the next day America imposes 30% tariff on Malaysia. ‒ FocusM Nov 12, 2025

 

Phlip Rodrigues is a retired journalist.

The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.

Eurostat

Euro zone retail sales unexpectedly fall in September

Reuters FRANKFURT (Nov 6): Euro zone retail sales unexpectedly fell in September, challenging expectations for a consumption-led recovery and offsetting other mildly positive news from the 20-nation currency bloc, data from Eurostat showed on Thursday.

Retail trade fell by 0.1% on the month in September, coming short of expectations for a 0.2% rise, while sales were up 1.0% compared to a year earlier, in line with expectations.

Euro zone households are sitting on ample savings and the European Central Bank has long expected them to start running these down in a boost to growth, but uncertainty keeps consumers cautious and actual figures continue to be disappointing.

Retail sales expanded by 0.2% on the month in Germany, the bloc's biggest economy and 0.4% in Spain, but there were falls in Italy, France and the Netherlands, among the bloc's bigger nations.

Still, other data, including sentiment readings and PMI data, show that the economy is holding up and ECB Vice President Luis de Guindos said policymakers were now marginally more optimistic on growth.

Non-food products sales dropped by 0.2% on the month, fuel sales were down 1% and food sales were stagnant, Eurostat added.

BNM

BNM keeps overnight policy rate unchanged as widely expected amid resilient economy, tame inflation

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 6): Malaysia’s central bank kept the benchmark interest rate unchanged as expected on Thursday, drawing comfort from resilient economic growth and tame inflation.

The overnight policy rate remains unchanged at 2.75%, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) said in a statement following its sixth and final monetary policy review for the year. The decision was correctly predicted by all economists in a Bloomberg poll. 

The current rate remains appropriate and supportive of the economy amid price stability, the central bank said. 

The policy rate has remained unchanged since July when BNM sprang a surprise with a 25-basis-point reduction in what the central bank described as a “pre-emptive measure” to support economic growth.

The economy has expanded stronger than expected in the recently ended quarter, driven by sustained household demand, robust electronics exports, and recovering commodity output.

Looking ahead, BNM expects resilient domestic demand to anchor expansion into 2026, supported by employment gains, wage growth, and income-related policy measures.

Investment activity is also set to strengthen on the back of multi-year projects in both private and public sectors, realisation of approved investments, and initiatives under various national master plans and the 13th Malaysia Plan. The momentum will be reinforced by Budget 2026 measures.

Upside potential could come from stronger global growth, firmer demand for electronics, and robust tourism activity. Still, the central bank remains cautious of external downside risks, including slower trade, weaker sentiment, and softer commodity production.

Malaysia’s economy is expected to expand steadily at 4.0%-4.5% in 2026 versus 4.0%-4.8% this year, according to official forecasts.

Inflation, meanwhile, remains contained. BNM expects headline inflation to stay moderate in 2026 amid easing global cost conditions, while core inflation should remain stable near its long-term average, reflecting steady economic expansion without excessive demand pressures.

The impact of domestic policy reforms on inflation would be “limited” in 2026, the central bank added.

BNM’s next monetary policy meeting is on Jan 22, 2026. - theedgemalaysia

CURRENCY

Ringgit nears one-year high on rate outlook, growth optimism

Bloomberg (Nov 4): The ringgit is hovering near its strongest level in a year, buoyed by expectations that the Malaysian central bank will keep policy rates steady and by renewed optimism in the nation’s growth outlook. 

The currency is 0.6% away from breaching the 4.1805 per dollar — a level that would mark its highest since October 2024 — and is on track for its biggest annual gain versus the greenback since 2017. 

Malaysia’s “resilient macro fundamentals, prudent fiscal management, and narrowing policy rate gap with the US” will support the ringgit, said Lloyd Chan, a strategist at MUFG Bank Ltd. He expects the currency to strengthen to 4.15 per dollar by year end. 

The ringgit has gained about 6.4% against the dollar so far this year, making it one of Asia’s top-performing currencies. Against the Singapore dollar, it’s trading less than 1% away from its strongest level since September 2022. Both economies have tight trading ties and share one of the busiest land borders in the world.

Malaysia’s trade-dependent economy has been buoyed by signs that global demand is picking up. Confidence rose when the US and China — Malaysia’s largest export partners — agreed at a landmark summit last week to extend their tariff truce, roll back export controls and reduce other trade barriers. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and US President Donald Trump also signed a trade deal last month, although the pact has since fuelled concerns about Malaysia’s interests and sovereignty in trade matters.

The improving external demand may provide a further boost to Malaysia’s growth story, which has been driven mainly by domestic consumption. Third-quarter gross domestic product grew by 5.2%, beating all estimates in a Bloomberg survey, and faster than the pace of expansion seen in the previous three quarters.  

Meanwhile, ringgit swaps are pricing for Malaysia’s policy rates to be held over the next 12 months. In mid-August, markets were expecting a quarter-point cut over the same time frame. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg also expect the nation’s benchmark rate to remain unchanged through 2026, even if the US lowers rates further.

“We expect Bank Negara Malaysia to keep its policy rate at 2.75% in November, given favourable growth-inflation dynamics,” MUFG’s Chan said. 

SUBANG

Wong Chen wants November 12 hearing on controversial US-Malaysia trade deal

SUBANG MP and Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC) chairman Wong Chen has announced that a full hearing will be held on November 12 to examine the contentious US-Malaysia Reciprocal Trade Deal, which he described as highly controversial in many aspects.

Wong, who is a PKR MP, said that while he does not enjoy political theatrics and will not lower himself to unfairly curse, he understands why some opposition MPs have reacted angrily to the agreement, which has raised concerns over its implications for Malaysia’s economic sovereignty.

“As the PSSC chairman, I have decided to take a more measured response to the flawed trade deal, which is to call for a full hearing on 12th November,” he said.

He explained that the timing of the hearing was deliberate, designed to allow a more thorough and informed review of the deal’s terms and global implications.

“The time selected is done on purpose,” Wong said, listing several reasons, including the need to enable cooler heads to prevail, to give time for experts to fully analyse and then testify accurately, and to track the reactions of our major trading partners, in particular China.

He added that the process would also allow cross-referencing with other trade frameworks such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

Wong acknowledged that November would be even more work than usual for him and apologised to his Subang constituents for likely missing community events during that period. — FocusM Nov 2, 2025

Manhunt

Malaysia launches manhunt for seven linked to Singapore’s scam network

AUTHORITIES in Singapore have exposed a cross-border cybercrime syndicate, leading Malaysia to hunt down seven of its citizens. Federal Police criminal investigation department director M. Kumar confirmed that an all-points bulletin has been issued to locate and arrest the suspects, who are now on Malaysia’s national wanted list.

The move follows Singapore’s issuance of arrest warrants for the same individuals and 27 Singaporeans tied to a massive impersonation scam operation.

The network, allegedly coordinated from Phnom Penh, is accused of deceiving hundreds of victims through fake calls by scammers posing as bank officers or regulators. Victims were told their accounts were compromised and instructed to transfer funds for “security verification”, resulting in losses exceeding S$41mil.

Among those sought are brothers Tang Soon Fai, 25, and Tang Soon Wah, 31, believed to share ties with Singaporean siblings Ng Wei Liang and Ng Wei Kang, who allegedly led the syndicate.

The remaining suspects are Kang Liang Yee, Hoe Ming Wei, Pang Han Ee, Bernard Goh Yie Shen, and Yip Chee Hoe. Malaysian police are also investigating whether the group has fled abroad, with Cambodia identified as a possible hideout.

The group was allegedly led by Ng Wei Liang, 32. He is one of 27 Singaporeans wanted by the Singapore Police Force for their suspected roles in 438 scam cases involving losses of at least S$41mil.

Wei Liang had allegedly set up the operation some time in 2024, and allegedly recruited his renovation contractor brother, Wei Kang, 33, and Wei Liang’s girlfriend, Christy Neo Wei En, 29. – FocusM Nov 1, 2025

TRUMP

“Nothing to shout about: Trump’s KL stopover is a matter of calendar, not diplomatic calibre” 

• By Jonathan Liew

WHEN US president Donald Trump flew into Malaysia on Sunday, Government leaders made it out as though Putrajaya is now the new Geneva. True, Trump’s visit makes headlines, but it is by no means a global endorsement of Malaysia’s diplomatic stature, like how many leaders in the Madani administration frame it.

It just boils down to the timing of the ASEAN chairmanship. Let’s be honest. World leaders turn up wherever the year’s schedule dictates. This year, Malaysia happened to chair ASEAN, the regional grouping which meets annually.

By convention, each of the 10 member nations (now 11 with the inclusion of East Timor) takes turns to chair the grouping and host its annual summit.

Had Myanmar been the chair this year, there is a chance that Trump would have flown to Naypyidaw, not Kuala Lumpur. Let’s not mistake rotational chairmanship for diplomatic prestige.

As host, Malaysia again happened to be very much in the global spotlight, thanks to a mix of tariff tensions, the Thailand-Cambodia dispute and the usual American interest in Southeast Asia. Trump’s presence is a matter of course, not a recognition of Malaysia’s foreign-policy finesse.

Contrast that with Singapore in 2018, when it hosted the historic Trump-Kim Jong Un summit. Singapore was trusted by both Washington and Pyongyang. The Capella Hotel became the world’s stage precisely because the island republic had spent decades cultivating neutrality, efficiency and credibility. It was diplomacy by design, not by duty.

Look elsewhere in Asia and you will see that prestige gatherings happen everywhere. Hanoi hosted the second Trump-Kim summit in 2019. Beijing brokered the Iran-Saudi reconciliation in 2023. Doha saw the United States and Taliban sign an agreement in 2020.

While Malaysia should certainly take pride in running a smooth ASEAN summit, let’s not confuse event management with global influence.

Hosting a convoy of motorcades and making sure the escalators and teleprompters work does not mean Putrajaya suddenly sits at the centre of the diplomatic universe.

So yes, Trump was here. But once the dust settles, Malaysia will go back to what it always was: an important ASEAN member.

At most, it is a vocal champion of the plight of the people in Gaza. But the fact that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim did not get invited to the Gaza Peace Summit in Egypt earlier this month (although his Indonesian counterpart Prabowo Subianto did), is testament of Malaysia’s diplomatic prowess, or lack of.

Gone are the days when Malaysia reverberated within global diplomatic circles, largely due to the immense influence and stature of ex-premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Government leaders should snap out of diplomatic illusion and stop conflating being on the map due to a matter of the calendar, with actual diplomatic calibre. ‒ FocusM  Oct 29, 2025