KOTA KINABALU: Deputy Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin (pic), on Thursday, has refuted claims that the Malaysia–US Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART 2025) sidelines Sabah and Sarawak, saying the deal benefits all regions equally.
He said the agreement’s zero-tariff list covering 1,711 Malaysian products includes key commodities such as palm oil, rubber, timber and cocoa — sectors that are major economic drivers for East Malaysia.
Chan, who is also Kota Kinabalu MP, added that Sabah’s certified sustainable palm oil and cocoa-based products will enjoy better market access to the US under the deal, complementing government support schemes for smallholders and cooperatives.
He dismissed suggestions that LNG imports from the US would weaken operations in Kimanis or Bintulu, stressing that Petronas’ import strategy was designed to balance supply and not replace East Malaysian facilities.
Chan urged Sabah leaders to move beyond regional rivalry and instead collaborate in strengthening the state’s role as a value-added export hub within Malaysia’s broader trade and industrial agenda.
