SNAPSHOT | Tariff talks with US to go on if M'sia unsatisfied - PM; Chegubard acquitted of sedition

KINI SNAPSHOT | What’s going on in the news today, with updates at 9am, 2pm, 6pm, and 9pm.

6pm

US tariffs

• Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said negotiations with the United States over newly imposed tariffs linked to forced labour concerns will continue if Malaysia is not satisfied with the outcome.

  According to Bernama, the talks, led by Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Johari Abdul Ghani, are aimed at safeguarding the country’s interests.

  “If we do not receive a satisfactory outcome, we will raise the matter again. At the very least, we are relieved that the tariff is relatively low compared with most other countries,” he was quoted as saying.

  Goods imported into the US from Malaysia and some other countries will face an additional 10 percent tariff under the new order, while other countries face an additional tariff of 12.5 percent.

  The Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry later confirmed it will engage the US on the matter.

READ MORE: Malaysia among 60 nations hit by new 10pct US tariff

• Several world leaders are responding poorly to the US’ new tariffs, with New Zealand Trade Minister Todd McClay reportedly calling the 12.5 percent tariff imposed on the country “very disappointing”.

  

  Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said it “made no sense”, and is inconsistent with the Australia-US free trade agreement and the country’s measures to combat forced labour.

  Yonhap quoted the South Korean presidential office as saying it will engage with the US to keep its pre-existing tariff rate, while Xinhua reported that Brazil will pursue dispute settlement at the World Trade Organisation.

  Singapore, which faces an additional 12.5 percent tariff on one-third of its US exports, said it has a good track record in curbing forced labour and will continue engaging the US trade representative to explore options.

Court

• Port Dickson Bersatu chief Badrul Hisham Shaharin has been acquitted of a sedition charge by the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today, after the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against him.

  This is over a Facebook post he allegedly made on April 6, 2024, commenting on the KK Mart founder Chai Kee Kan’s audience with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar three days earlier, amidst the controversy over socks printed with the word “Allah”.

  The prosecution had alleged that Badrul, also known as Chegubard, had incited discontent against the king.

  

  The sedition charge is only one of many faced by the veteran politician over his career, the latest of which was a charge on June 25 over a Facebook post about the Negeri Sembilan royal institution.

  He has also been disqualified from the Negeri Sembilan election after the Johor Bahru Sessions Court fined him RM5,000 on July 10 over another sedition case. Badrul intends to appeal against the decision.

READ MORE: Chegubard claims trial to sedition, defaming Agong 

Water crisis

• The Perak government has outlined four key measures to mitigate the impact of a water supply crisis on paddy fields in Perak Tengah, especially if the situation worsens due to the El Niño phenomenon.

  State Infrastructure, Energy, Water and Public Transport exco Nizar Jamaluddin said the state is negotiating with TNB Genco to coordinate water release to ensure sufficient supply for both irrigation and water treatment plants.

  

  The government is also proposing to construct about 10 tube wells in areas that frequently face water shortages, which are estimated to cost over RM3 million and take about one-and-a-half years to complete.

  Other proposals include mobilising the Irrigation and Drainage Department’s mobile pumps to paddy fields facing water supply problems or pump failures, and applying for cloud seeding operations as a last resort.

Previously at 2pm | Loke dismisses talk on N Sembilan MB pick; nine probes opened over state polls offences

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SNAPSHOT | Chegubard claims trial to sedition over post on royals; PAS rep charged under Penal Code

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