Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican said it was premature for Malaysia to make any judgment on the Trump Administration, since the real estate tycoon would only be sworn in early next year.

He added that from the perspective of economic cooperation, Malaysia is pragmatic and does not rely too much on any one market.

Reezal Merican was responding to a question from Sim Tze Tzin (PKR-Bayan Baru) in Parliament on Wednesday morning, on whether the Government would review its policy with the United States.

“Our bilateral ties have always been built on mutual respect, with close cooperation in vast areas including trade, security, and defence.

“We will extend this cooperation to the new administration to ensure a strong continuity in bilateral ties, and to ensure that Malaysia’s interests will be protected in the future,” Reezal Merican said.

He added that Wisma Putra is now reading the signals from the United States, such as the appointment of Reince Priebus as the incoming chief of staff and Rtd Lt Gen Michael Flynn as the next national security advisor, which would be reflective of how Trump intends to run his administration.

Using previous US presidents as examples, Reeza Merican said their policies did not necessarily match their election manifestos when reality finally kicked in.

Popular

Women in philanthropy: Fifi Pangestu’s leadership and vision in Bakti Barito Foundation

Philippines to endure extreme heat until mid-May

Magnitude 6.5 earthquake strikes off Java island: authorities