MAG's Boeing Jet Purchase Not Linked To Tariff Talks, Minister Clarifies
He explained that the purchase was made using MAG's own funds and is not in any way related to the tariff discussions with the US government.
'This is a commercial decision made in line with MAG's fleet renewal strategy, not one driven by diplomatic pressure or public spending,' he said in a Facebook posting on Aug 2.
The minister also noted that the Boeing deal had been announced as early as March 2025, well before the US imposed any new tariff on Malaysian exports.
'At the time of the announcement, there was no indication from the US about imposing new tariffs. To suggest the aircraft order was a reaction to tariffs is simply not accurate,' he said.
However, Tengku Zafrul acknowledged that Malaysia had strategically highlighted large-scale purchases from American companies, including MAG's aircraft deal, during negotiations to demonstrate the country's role as a significant trade partner to the US.
'By showing that Malaysia also imports high-value products from the US, we helped shift the narrative away from a one-sided trade surplus.
'This helped convince US authorities to revise the tariff rate downward from 25% to 19%,' he explained.
He described the move as a 'smart and calculated' approach that protected both corporate interests and national economic priorities.
'The MAG-Boeing deal was never about appeasement. It was about demonstrating that Malaysia is a responsible and reciprocal trading partner while staying true to the commercial viability of every decision,' Tengku Zafrul said.
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