(MIRI, 2nd) In response to the chain reactions triggered by the United States' announcement to impose retaliatory tariffs on all imported goods, Member of Parliament for Miri,Chiew Choon Man, expressed high concern and fully supports the government convening a special parliamentary session on May 5th to pool insights and formulate comprehensive strategies to safeguard the nation's export interests.
He pointed out that amid this global economic tension, what is more worrying is foreign illicit groups attempting to misuse the “Made in Malaysia” label, turning our nation into a transit hub for smuggling and tariff evasion, severely damaging the nation's reputation and integrity, and posing a major threat to honest local exporters.
“We must not allow any attempt to bypass international trade measures through false labeling. All products that receive ‘Made in Malaysia’ certification must genuinely undergo local transformation processes and contain sufficient local components.”
Chiew Choon Man emphasized supporting the authorities in continuously strengthening law enforcement to combat label misuse and suggested that the government invest resources to establish a strong product traceability system to improve transparency and international confidence, enabling foreign buyers and regulatory units to accurately verify the product's origin and protect our country's trade reputation.
He noted that frequent adjustments in tariff policies by major global economies have disrupted the global supply chain order. Malaysia can no longer respond passively and must adopt a more proactive stance, actively enhancing regional cooperation, promoting trade diplomacy, and improving local manufacturing capabilities to maintain our competitive edge amid the protectionism wave.
“Every crisis hides opportunities. Malaysia should seize the opportunity to establish itself as a trustworthy production and innovation center, attracting genuine foreign investors rather than those attempting to evade trade rules.”
Chiew Choon Man also commended the government's displayed decisiveness and prudent decision-making. He believes that through cross-departmental coordination and formulation of short-, medium-, and long-term multi-level adjustment measures, the government has demonstrated a maturity in governance. He also called for strengthened cooperation with neighboring countries to establish a more united and resilient ASEAN regional community to cope with global instability.
“I urge all Members of Parliament to actively participate in the special parliamentary session on May 5th, fulfilling our duties to review and debate constructively and unite to safeguard the integrity of the nation's trade system, protecting the interests of our businesses and workers, so that Malaysia may stand out stronger, more respected, and more competitive in this wave of global upheaval.”