Kuala lumpur: Bumiputera rights remained a firm red line throughout negotiations on the Malaysia-United States Agreement on Reciprocal Tariffs (ART), Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz said. He stated that those rights were not compromised in the pact.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Tengku Zafrul challenged claims that the agreement granted US companies Bumiputera status under the ART. He urged anyone making such allegations to identify any clause that supports this assertion. These comments were made during a briefing to the Parliament’s Special Caucus on the Malaysia-US ART.

The minister addressed concerns that the ART could undermine national sovereignty, emphasizing that both governments highlighted shared values such as sovereignty, economic prosperity, and resilient supply chains in the agreement. He assured that both parties remain committed to upholding their respective sovereignty, reinforced by a strong and enduring bilateral economic relationship.

Tengku Zafrul stressed the importance of reviewing the agreement comprehensively. He urged that every clause should be considered within the context of maintaining each country’s sovereignty, advocating against reading the document in isolation.