Kuala Lampur, Dec. 17 -- The Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) between Malaysia and the United States (US) has continued to receive strong criticism and condemnation from detractors who insist the agreement, among others, compromises Malaysia's sovereignty.

Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has in recent days doubled down on his criticism of the agreement, even likening it to a new Malayan Union being forced upon the country.

Comparisons have been made between the ART between Malaysia and the US and the ART between Cambodia and the US, particularly Article 5.1 in both ARTs.

Article 5.1 in the ART between Malaysia and the US reads as follows:

If the United States imposes a customs duty, quota, prohibition, fee, charge, or...