Mahathir escalates attacks on US-Malaysia trade deal

Kuala Lumpur, 6 December 2025 – Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz over the Malaysia–US Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART), accusing the government of surrendering Bumiputera privileges to American companies.

In a lengthy Facebook post dated 5 December 2025, Dr Mahathir directly challenged Tengku Zafrul’s defence of Clause 6.2(1) of the ART, which he says effectively ends preferential treatment for Bumiputera firms when dealing with the United States.

“Within the simple language, there will be no more privileges for any GLC or local company when transacting with America. This means policies that give quotas or advantages to Bumiputera companies can no longer be implemented,” Mahathir wrote.

US-Malaysia trade deal

He ridiculed Zafrul’s reliance on the exception clause (“except for the achievement of their public service obligations”), stating:

“When Zafrul has to refer to this exception, it already proves my original statement is correct – Clause 6.2(1) does not allow Bumiputera interests under this agreement.”

Mahathir questioned who would define “public service obligations,” warning it would not be Malaysia alone but also the United States. He accused the government of arrogance:

“Stop being so arrogant that you refuse to admit you were wrong to agree to the ART. … Enough of Zafrul defending American interests and start working to cancel the agreement that pawns the nation’s sovereignty.”

The 100-year-old statesman, who has long been a fierce defender of Bumiputera economic policy, declared the entire ART is designed solely for America’s benefit and urged its immediate cancellation.

Business News