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By Mihar Dias November 2025
We all knew the so-called Reciprocal Trade Agreement with the U.S. was one-sided — only the government kept denying it. Now, thanks to the Parliamentary Select Committee, our suspicions have been gloriously reaffirmed. Turns out “reciprocity” was just another word for obedience.
Congratulations, Malaysia — we’ve just signed the most “reciprocal” agreement in history. The United States brings its trade lawyers, strategists, and geopolitical muscle. We bring our signatures and smiles.
On October 26, 2025, Malaysia inked the Agreement Between the United States and Malaysia on Reciprocal Trade. Sounds grand, doesn’t it? Like two equals shaking hands across the Pacific.
Except, as three MPs — Wong Chen, Nik Nazmi, and Rafizi Ramli — have now pointed out, it’s more like an elephant offering to share its peanut with a mouse.
According to Deputy Minister of MITI, Liew Chin Tong, we were “forced into negotiations.”
Lovely. So, not only did we lose at the table, we were dragged there to begin with. The phrase “reciprocal trade” now reads like an inside joke between Washington and Wall Street.
The MP's joint statement describes the deal as “heavily lopsided” in favour of the U.S., with clauses (particularly Articles 5.1 to 5.3) that effectively compel Malaysia to align its policies with U.S. economic and national security interests.
Translation: when America sneezes, we’ll be the ones reaching for the tissue box.
But fear not — Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told Parliament we have an “exit clause.” Yes, that magical safety net that lets you leave whenever you want… provided the other side doesn’t mind.
It’s like telling your spouse, “Don’t worry, I can always divorce you” — while you’re already signing the pre-nup written by their lawyer.
The Attorney General’s Chambers later confirmed it: we can terminate the deal “by written notice.” https://www.facebook.com/share/1Fdyz1t5tH/?mibextid=wwXIfr
So comforting. Because when you’re in a lopsided agreement with a superpower, the pen is obviously mightier than the Pentagon.
The MPs are now calling for a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate how we ended up in this position — an excellent suggestion, if only because every great Malaysian disaster deserves its own commission.
They want to know why we signed an “agreement” instead of a “framework” or an “MOU.” The answer, I suspect, lies somewhere between misplaced enthusiasm and a photo opportunity.
They also recommend hiring international trade lawyers to read the fine print — after we’ve signed, of course.
It’s a bit like calling the fire brigade once the house is already ash. Still, it’s good to see Parliament rediscovering the concept of due diligence, even if it’s retroactive.
Meanwhile, MITI will likely form a task force — because nothing says “we’re in control” like forming committees to explain decisions already made.
The government assures us there are “benefits” — like cooperation on digital trade, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals.
Wonderful. That’s code for our data heading to Silicon Valley, our chips being rebranded in Texas, and our drugs coming with U.S. patent protection that makes Panadol look like a luxury item.
This so-called Reciprocal Trade Agreement is less about reciprocity and more about obedience dressed up as opportunity.
We’ve spent decades preaching “active neutrality” and “ASEAN centrality.” Now we’re redefining neutrality to mean: “We agree with everyone, especially Washington.”
Let’s be honest — this isn’t diplomacy. It’s dependency management with a diplomatic smile. And the Madani government’s insistence that “we can leave anytime” is about as believable as a telco promising unlimited data.
Malaysia has walked straight into a geopolitical bear hug — the kind where you smile for the cameras while struggling to breathe.
So yes, it’s reciprocal. The U.S. gets access, influence, and alignment. We get a press release, an “exit clause,” and the satisfaction of knowing that somewhere in Washington, a trade lawyer is toasting our compliance.
Signed, sealed, subjugated — and smiling all the way to sovereignty-lite.
New national motto: “In Trade We Trust, In Washington We Verify.”
Mihar Dias (mihardias@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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