Trump Does Not Have Absolute Power - Academicians

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 17 (Bernama) -- The Congress which is a strong institution of the United States's will ensure that relations between the superpower and its foreign partners, including Malaysia remain under control, said Malaysian academicians. Malaysian Association of American Studies president Prof Dr K S Nathan said it could overturn decisions made by the President. "To me, American institutions are more powerful than an individual. Taking this view, it can be said Malaysia's relations with the US will continue on the right track," he said when met by reporters after delivering his speech in an analysis discussion entitled 'Donald Trump: Divided America and Threatened World', here Wednesday. He was commenting on whether Trump's presidency would affect relations between the US and Malaysia. Also presenting their papers in the discussion organised by the National Council of Professors were International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) History and Civilisation lecturer, Prof Dr Abdullahil Ahsan and IIUM's Political Sciences lecturer, Assoc Prof Dr Ishtiaq Hossain. Asked whether Trump's presidency could be a threat to the world, Nathan noted that he was only elected president for the US, not for the world, and that there were other superpower leaders to keep a check and balance. Meanwhile, Universiti Utara Malaysia (Northern University of Malaysia) senior lecturer in political and international studies Md Shukri Shuib, when contacted, told Bernama that absolute power as some people thought was owned by the US President was actually non-existent. "Congressmen have the authority to limit the president's powers, some matters require approval from the Congress," he said. Asked whether US foreign policy towards Islamic countries would change under Trump, Dr Abdullahil said that he believed that Trump would tread carefully on this. "In international trade you have the main waterways which flow towards the Muslim world and that is why the Muslim world cannot be ignored, and Trump cannot ignore Muslims' interests," he added. The Republican Trump beat Democrat Hillary Clinton in a close race to become the 45th US President, pulling off a major upset after what some have described as a bitter and at times ugly campaign. --BERNAMA