‘Stop giving inconclusive answers, MITI’

Alyaa Azhar

PETALING JAYA: Anti Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) group Bantah TPPA is unhappy with the International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) for consistently giving ‘superficial and general answers’.

The group said it was clueless on the outcome of the TPPA, as statements from international sources contradict that given by the ministry.

Bantah TPPA chairman, Mohd Nizam Mahshar, said a Mexican minister had said that the trade agreement will be inked by all participating countries by April and the US has stated that most of the chapters have been concluded.

“However, Miti said a lot has yet to be discussed. So right now, we do not know what is true,” he said.

Mohd Nizam was also doubtful of Miti’s promise that ‘nothing is agreed until everything is agreed’.

“Miti has kept reassuring us, telling us not to worry. However, I have warned them that it was almost impossible to reverse the text if consultation is only done at the end.”

As mentioned, according to the US and international sources, all of the chapters have been concluded.

“Therefore, it would be near to impossible to reverse what has been concluded,” said Mohd Nizam, pointing out how the ministry was taking the wrong approach and taking a huge risk by leaving proper consultations towards the end of negotiations.

Mohd Nizam added that Miti lacked proper engagement with relevant stakeholders as Bantah TPPA was still waiting to be consulted on the outcome of the cost and benefit analyses (CBA) of the effects of the TPPA on national interest and Bumiputera companies as well as small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

“They promised to consult us on the outcome of the studies and for the report to be made publicly available.

“The national interest CBA done by Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) have been concluded but they still have not engaged us on the final report. As such, we have doubts on the outcome of the report,” he said.

Contradictory statements

Mohd Nizam also lamented how parliamentarians were not provided with proper information on the TPPA.

“We do not see proper information being provided to parliamentarians. It is only appropriate for information be gathered from all perspectives,” he said.

Admitting that there was openness in general discussions with the ministry, he however said Miti has failed to provide proper terms of references.

“We understand that Miti cannot disclose everything to the public. However, group discussions with experts and stakeholders are important,” he said.

He added that the ministry had even promised to bring in an independent and credible party who can access the negotiation texts to give professional assessment.

“Instead, Miti has been going around the world such as to the US and its allies, making us second stakeholders, as if we’re not important,” he said.

Meanwhile, Charles Santiago, a member of the parliamentary caucus on the TPPA was also confused about Malaysia’s position.

“The minister (Mustapa Mohamed) said that they will be negotiating for the entire year of 2014 but we know that the US has said that everything will be concluded by April,” said the Klang MP.

Santiago also pointed out how the parliamentary caucus meeting has been postponed twice.

“The meeting with the caucus has been postponed twice, one was supposed to be on Dec 6 and the next on Dec 10. We have not met at all this year,” he said.

The TPPA is a multi-lateral trade agreement that the US, the leading negotiator in the talks, hoped would serve its role in developing a broader platform for trade liberalisation in the Asia-Pacific region.

Malaysia is negotiating with Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the US, Vietnam and Japan to conclude the TPPA.


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