KOTA KINABALU: The President of the Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) Sabah, Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, claims that the Reciprocal Trade Agreement (RTA) between Malaysia and the United States (US) fails to consider the interests of Sabah and Sarawak.
He mentioned that while the agreement offers benefits like reducing export tariffs to 19 percent and exemptions.
He pointed out that this includes several products such as palm oil, but it raises concerns about the loss of sovereignty and state rights in trade and investment matters.
“The people of Sabah and Sarawak deserve to have a say because our economy is not the same as that of the Peninsula.
“Sabah needs to be given the space to determine its own economic direction, especially in strategic sectors like oil, palm oil, and rare earths,” he stated in a statement today.
Dr Jeffrey also urged the Chief Minister of Sabah, Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor, not to remain silent regarding the implementation of the RTA.
According to him, he should instead defend the interests of the people and the future of the state from being compromised by decisions made without consultation with the Borneo states.
