His concern for national autonomy is shared by many Malaysians who care deeply about economic independence.
However, passion must be matched with precision. A fair assessment of the Malaysia -United States Agreement on Reciprocal Trade requires us to separate emotions from facts, see this pact not as a surrender, but as a calculated act of damage control in a difficult global environment.
Let us begin with what the agreement actually is. The trade deal is an executive agreement, concluded under US President Donald Trump’s authority through Executive Order 14,257.
It is not a treaty ratified by the US Congress. This means that...