By Phlip Rodrigues
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim wasted no time in giving a prompt reply to some members of the US Congress who want Malaysia to reverse what they perceived is its “anti-Semitic” policy towards Israel.
As expected, the PMX reiterated the unchanging stand of Malaysia, specifically barring Israeli nationals from entering the country.
And the 15-day ultimatum to hit back at Malaysia if it doesn’t change course?
“That will not deter us. They may issue threats, but I will firmly defend the rights of the Malaysian people and uphold the government’s decision to continue prohibiting the entry of any Israeli nationals into Malaysia,” he reportedly said.
Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil also opened fire on the Congress members describing their actions as “rude” for apparently “interfering in our country’s sovereignty”.
When the ultimatum expires, the US lawmakers would ask their federal government to review economic ties with Malaysia in addition to suspending US military training funding.
Now the question arises: Will US President Donald Trump bow down to the wishes of the lawmakers? If he does, will he impose punitive tariff hikes on Malaysia? Or implement debilitating trade sanctions that will severely cripple the economy?
Recall that under the now defunct US-Malaysia Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART), there is a controversial provision that critics said “subordinates our foreign policy to Washington’s interests”, thereby undermining our sovereignty.
If ART, signed by Anwar and Trump during the Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur last November, was in force, the US legislators would have undoubtedly invoked the provision because Malaysia did not comply with Washington’s interests in that it did not change its anti-Israeli policy. They would have probably recommended harsh trade measures against Putrajaya.
Or even proposed that Malaysian citizens be prohibited from entering the United States.
The ultimatum will end in about two weeks’ time and during that period more developments could crop up as both sides seize up their respective position.
Anwar has delivered his unequivocal stand and there is no way he will back down. And there is no chance in hell that the US will abandon its ally Israel.
Nevertheless, matters cannot be allowed to fester. Malaysia must still deal with the US given that the latter is our second-largest trade partner who still wields enormous influence on the world stage.
The PMX has reportedly said “if we want to seek help in resolving the (Gaza) conflict, I don’t know who else we could turn to (except Trump)”.
So, now the ball is in the White House court. It is up to Trump to decide whether to play ball with the “rude” Congressmen or resort to diplomacy and try to reach some sort of a resolution with Anwar on the Israeli question.
Trump will have no problem reaching out to the PMX since their cordial meeting during the Asean Summit. After all, the American leader has publicly called the PMX a “very good man”.
Anwar and Trump are politicians and they know how to play the game of diplomacy to defuse a crisis, big or small. The dust kicked up by the American legislators can be cleared if only both sides show strong political will to deal with the hot button issue that is Israel.
Phlip Rodrigues is a retired journalist.
