KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is monitoring the possible impact of the recent US election results on tariffs and bilateral trade relations.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the cabinet had discussed the short- and medium-term implications of the Republican Party’s electoral setbacks.
“As for whether this will affect tariffs and other matters, we are still monitoring developments,” he told reporters after attending Friday prayers at Masjid Taman Kosas in Ampang today.
Anwar said Malaysia would continue engaging with President Donald Trump’s administration, as well as existing and newly elected members of the US Congress.
He described the election results as an internal matter for the US but welcomed what he saw as a rejection of racial and religious hatred.
“Personally, I am pleased with these developments and changes because of the message they send.
“The message is against violence and racial hatred,” he said.
He said the results reflected public dissatisfaction with political rhetoric targeting minority communities, including Muslims.
He expressed hope that the developments would help ease international geopolitical tensions.
He said Malaysia should also learn from the importance of rejecting racial hatred and focusing on good governance.
“What matters for us in Malaysia is to teach people to be good human beings and to cleanse the country of greed and corruption,” he said.
The US midterm elections held on Tuesday saw Democrats wrest control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives from Trump’s Republican Party.