Ex-army chief joins opposition to Anwar's trade deal with Trump, vets to meet rulers

A group of veterans led by a former armed forces chief has joined the growing opposition to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's move to align with Washington's interests, echoing concerns from experts that the controversial Malaysia-US Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART), which he signed with President Donald Trump in October amounts to surrendering Malaysia's independence and sovereignty.

Retired General Borhan Ahmad, who served as the country's 12th army chief from 1994 to 1995, said he and other former army personnel plan to bring the issue to the attention of the Conference of Rulers.

Borhan also voiced concern over Putrajaya's new defence cooperation pact with Washington, which seeks to increase Malaysia's military engagement with the US, saying that alongside ART, the government has "surrendered our sovereignty and integrity to a foreign power".

"This does not reflect well on us as an independent nation state," Borhan said at a press conference attended by Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who earlier this week lodged a historic police report calling for Anwar to be investigated for sabotaging national interests by signing the deal.

"Are we now being subjugated and recolonised, or being blackmailed into this lopsided deal? What is our reason for succumbing to threats of sanctions and increased 'tariffs' if we do not agree to these impossible trade rulings?" he asked.

Anwar and government leaders have taken pains to defend ART, which has sparked public outrage and criticism from experts and politicians over clauses seen as overwhelmingly favouring Washington's interests.

Among the critics is former attorney-general Tommy Thomas, who said the various commitments imposed on Malaysia showed that those involved in the negotiations – from the Prime Minister’s Office to the Attorney-General’s Chambers – "did not negotiate at all".

"The US handed them their draft. And it was signed lamely by Anwar, who had Trump’s pen to show for it, and a ride in Trump’s car," he said, referring to Trump's gift of a White House pen to Anwar shortly after the latter signed the agreement in Kuala Lumpur on the sidelines of the Asean Summit on Oct 26.

Details of the deal only emerged to the Malaysian public after the White House published them on its official website hours later.

At the heart of the outrage is a provision that obliges Malaysia to become a direct participant in US economic conflicts.

It states that if Washington imposes sanctions or tariffs on any third country for national security reasons, Malaysia "shall adopt or maintain a measure with equivalent restrictive effect", effectively ending Malaysia’s long-held foreign policy of non-alignment and mirroring US sanctions against other nations.

'Don't be beggars again'

Borhan reminded that Asean has always adhered to the principles stated in Zopfan, or Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality, a declaration by the bloc in 1971 to ensure the region is free from interference by outside powers.

"To uphold this philosophy, we must remain neutral in all manners and forms and not side with any superpower or regional power," he added.

He reminded the government that Malaysia's rapid economic growth was possible due to past sacrifices made "through blood and tears".

He warned that the sacrifices would be in vain if Malaysia agrees to succumb to demands by a foreign power.

"So let us not sell the nation to become beggars again," said Borhan.