THE Dewan Rakyat will convene a special session on 5 May to allow both government and opposition MPs to express their views on the retaliatory tariffs recently imposed by the United States on Malaysian exports.
MADANI government spokesperson and Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the session would begin at 11am with a statement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, followed by a full debate.
“The debate will see both the government and opposition parties present their views on the issue of retaliatory tariffs,” Fahmi said during a press conference in Putrajaya. “The session will conclude with remarks by the Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, and the Ministry of Finance.”
He added that all Members of Parliament would receive official notice of the session today.
The special sitting follows confirmation by the Prime Minister yesterday that Parliament would be recalled to address the implications of the US tariff hike, which includes a 24 per cent levy on certain Malaysian goods as announced by former US President Donald Trump on 3 April.
On Tengku Zafrul’s recent visit to Washington, Fahmi said the minister would meet with his US counterparts to initiate a series of discussions on the tariff measures. “We cannot anticipate what will be announced. We have to wait until they return and report to the Cabinet,” he said.
Separately, the Cabinet also confirmed Malaysia’s tribute to Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday at the age of 88.
Datuk Ewon Benedick, Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives, will represent the Malaysian government in signing the book of condolences at the Vatican Embassy in Kuala Lumpur. He will also attend the funeral, scheduled for Saturday at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome.
Fahmi noted that these decisions were made during today’s Cabinet meeting. “The Cabinet extended its condolences on the passing of Pope Francis,” he said. “The Prime Minister expressed that Pope Francis was a vocal advocate, particularly on the issue of Gaza, and held him in very high regard.” - April 23, 2025
