KUALA LUMPUR (XFN-ASIA) - Malaysia rejects any form of political pressure from Washington in its negotiations with the US regarding a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), national news agency Bernama reported, citing Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Abdullah said Malaysia will not bow to pressure from the US.
'We reject the pressure being inflicted upon us. We are a sovereign country and have our own stand,' he was quoted as saying.
Abdullah was reacting to a call made by US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Tom Lantos, who demanded US President George W. Bush suspend all FTA negotiations with Malaysia.
Lantos said this is in protest to the 16-bln-usd deal signed last month between Malaysia's SKS Group and the state-owned National Iranian Oil Co.
International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz has said that she is ready to advise the government to immediately halt talks with the US if Washington continues to threaten Malaysia.
(1 usd = 3.50 rgt)
john.tan@xinhuafinance.com
© 2007 AFX News
