KUCHING: Malaysia should prioritise efforts to strengthen its national economy over concerns about tariff pressures from foreign governments, said Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Speaking at the state-level Aidilfitri Madani 2025 celebration at Stadium Perpaduan on Saturday, Abang Johari stressed that political stability and sustained economic growth are far more critical to the nation’s future than retaliatory trade policies imposed by other countries.
“Malaysia is politically stable at present, and our leaders have elevated the country’s standing on the world stage,” he said.
“Our economy has continued to grow, even though some countries are seeking to impose certain tariffs. It’s alright, let us set tariffs aside; what matters most is the strength of our national economy.”
His remarks come in light of recent tariff announcements by US President Donald Trump, who on April 3 declared a minimum 10% tariff on imports from all countries under a new reciprocal trade policy.
The move has had a disproportionate impact on Asean’s Indochina members, with Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and Myanmar facing combined baseline and retaliatory duties of between 44% and 49%. Malaysia and Brunei were each slapped with a 24% tariff, while Indonesia and Thailand face duties of 32% and 36%, respectively.
The new tariffs are currently under a 90-day suspension, except for those imposed on China, which remain in force.
Despite these developments, Abang Johari reaffirmed his belief in Malaysia’s economic fundamentals and its ability to weather external challenges. He also emphasised the importance of resilient governance and unified national vision in sustaining growth.
“Let us not be distracted by external pressures. Our focus must be on building a robust and competitive economy from within,” he said.
The Aidilfitri celebration saw an estimated 10,000 attendees and was jointly organised by the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, the Sarawak State Secretary’s Office, and the Performance Acceleration Coordination Unit under the Prime Minister’s Office.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof were also present at the event.
