Kuala Lampur, July 23 -- JULY 23 - Let's face it. With or without a tariff from US, pegged at 25 per cent or lowered potentially to 19 per cent, Malaysia has to negotiate the tax down to zero in order to make our export sectors competitive.

This is the formula of Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam; which is also aspired by Thailand.

In other words, bite the bullet of Trump's tariffs on August 1 or after, but lock the Trump Administration in a perpetual negotiation to take the tariff down to zero.

Not unlike how Malaysia's Semi Conductors and integrated circuits are exempted completely from any Trump tariffs.

In this context, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's speech to Malaysia was extremely important.

On 23 July 2025, Anwar delivere...