Anwar says Trump is a 'good listener', thanked him for zero tariffs on semiconductors

Despite their differing views on a number of global issues, Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim praised U.S. President Donald Trump for being a "good listener" in their conversations at the Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur.

Anwar was speaking to reporters in a press conference after the closing ceremony of Asean and related summits, and responding in particular to a question about how conversations between both leaders went during a car ride to the KL Cultural Centre (KLCC), where the summits were held.

A good listener

"He is [a] good listener in private arrangements and engagements...[though] I politely disagreed on some issues," Anwar said, before raising a number of topics discussed between them.

Among them were the relationship between Malaysia and China, which rivals the U.S. in areas like trade, as well as Anwar's meetings with Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar in light of a supposed ceasefire in the conflict.

"He wants to know, of course, about relations with the neighbours, particularly with China, and why I invited Brazil and South Africa," Anwar said.

"I spent some time discussing Gaza. He knew about...my meeting with past Hamas leaders, I explained to him why I  was in Doha."

"I said, "you know, you talk about a lasting peace, a durable peace, that must be comprehensive. But of course, his answer is that that's the first phase, we are working with it and working on it.""

Anwar added that negotiations were also made with Trump to lower U.S. tariffs imposed on Malaysia, which eventually saw the rate reduced from 25 per cent to 19 per cent, as well as zero tariff on major facilities and exports like semiconductors.

"I want to thank him for that," he said.

Referring to his private conversations with Trump, Anwar said he was "in a fortunate position" and lauded Trump for "[listening] very attentively to our views", despite a number of them conflicting with his own.

Engagements

On the same note, he emphasised that the point of the Asean Summit is to ensure engagements take place, even if parties disagree.

Anwar was responding to another question about the lack of a joint statement released at the East Asia Summit, where global conflicting powers like U.S., China and Russia were present.

"Some meetings, Myanmar comes in, the Europeans get out. Some meetings, if Russia is coming in, the others will not participate.

"But in the Asean East Asia Summit, at least there's preparedness to engage and listen."

"The consensus within Asean is to ensure that there is engagement, we should not stop engaging," he added, saying that the lack of an agreement reached is secondary.

Top image via Anwar Ibrahim/Facebook