Kuala lumpur: Malaysia’s presence at a major forum such as the G20 is proof that the nation’s foreign policy remains neutral, sovereign, and not tied with any major powers, said Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Aziz.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, some have claimed that after signing the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART), Malaysia’s hands are ‘tied’ and that the country is no longer able to pursue a neutral foreign policy. However, Tengku Zafrul emphasized Malaysia’s commitment to engaging with all countries based on national interests. He noted that despite less-than-warm relations between the United States and South Africa, Malaysia faced no issues inviting the South African President to the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur and accepting South Africa’s invitation to attend the G20 Summit.

Tengku Zafrul highlighted that the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) plans to utilize the G20 platform to convey the perspectives of developing nations and ensure fair and
inclusive global trade. He mentioned that after completing an official visit to Ethiopia, the delegation proceeded to Johannesburg, South Africa, to attend the G20 Summit, underscoring Malaysia’s active role on the global stage and strong South-South cooperation.

The Malaysian delegation to the G20 Summit, which begins tomorrow, is led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and includes Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa, along with Malaysian government officials and a business delegation.

Under the Malaysia-US ART, signed during the 47th ASEAN Summit and related meetings, Washington committed to maintaining a 19 per cent tariff on Malaysian-origin goods. The agreement also identified 1,711 Malaysian products that will enjoy a reciprocal zero-per cent tariff, including palm oil, rubber, cocoa, pharmaceutical components, and aerospace equipment.