KUALA LUMPUR, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Friday said his country will not bow to any political pressure from the United States in the negotiations of the bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

    Badawi made the remarks in Kedah state in reaction to the warning given by U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Lantos who demanded that U.S. government should cut off FTA talks with Malaysia in protest over an energy development deal signed between a Malaysian company and Iran's national oil company.

    "We reject the pressure being inflicted upon us. We are a sovereign country and has our own stand," the Malaysian leader was quoted as saying by the national new agency Bernama.

    Badawi said Washington has no right to prevent Kuala Lumpur from forging trade ties with other countries just because of the bilateral FTA.

    "This is a question of business. Do not insert political matters in the talks. For this agreement, no political matter needs to be brought to the negotiating table," said Badawi.

    When asked if the latest development will cast shadow on the Malaysia-U.S. relationship, Badawi insisted his country holds the views that political matters should not be brought to business issues.

    Lantos was reported to have sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab, demanding that America should suspend all FTA talks with Malaysia until the latter cancels the 16-billion-U.S. dollar energy deal signed last month with Iran.

    Malaysia and the United States are scheduled to kick off their fifth round of FTA talks next week, which is described as a "crucial" round by Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Karan K. Bhatia.

    Malaysian International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz on Thursday said she is ready to advise the government to cancel the negotiations immediately if Washington continues to threaten Kuala Lumpur.

    The United States is Malaysia's biggest trading partner and also a major foreign investor. Malaysia is the 10th largest trading partner for the United States.

    U.S. trade officials earlier had expressed their wish to finalize the FTA talks before March 31 this year.