Fahmy said technical inquiries should be directed to the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI).
putrajaya: Malaysia has rejected claims that discussions on a reciprocal trade agreement (ART) with the United States were conducted without proper disclosures, saying the matter has already been brought up to the Cabinet.
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the issue was raised in Parliament earlier this week.
Several MPs sought clarification regarding the agreements signed during the recently concluded 47th ASEAN Summit and related summits.
“In fact a cabinet memorandum was brought out and the matters involved were investigated.
“So the allegation that there was something unknown does not apply,” he said during the weekly post-Cabinet press conference today.
Fahmy said technical inquiries should be directed to the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI).
“There are many people who want to understand the details, including media colleagues. They can directly connect with the press secretary to the Miti minister (Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Aziz),” he said.
The ART was signed on the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Kuala Lumpur on 27 October 2025.
The deal is said to outline cooperation on regulatory practices and trade facilitation, as well as reciprocal treatment for certain categories of origin goods between Malaysia and the United States.
During the Dewan Rakyat meeting on 6 November, questions were raised when MPs pressed the government for clarification on the newly signed trade arrangement.
Datuk Seri Shahidan Kasim (PN-Arau) requested clarification on the interpretation of Article 3.3 within the text of the agreement, while Datuk Radzi Jidin (PN-Putrajaya) sought clarification on its potential implications for taxation, government revenue and government-linked entities.
At the same meeting, Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said the agreement allows Malaysia to move forward without facing a potential 19% trade tariff risk, adding that the arrangement provides greater certainty for local industries and can help encourage foreign direct investment.
He also said that the Finance Ministry had provided inputs on tax considerations when the agreement was being finalized.
Also read: MITI minister: Malaysia won’t “bow down its neck” to US trade deal.
Post View: 2
