SHAH ALAM, 19 June: The Federal Government has been advised to not rush into signing the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) without complete reports and data on it.
In a joint statement, Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Members of Parliament Michael Jayakumar, Nurul Izzah, Charles Santiago, Takiyuddin Hassan and Wong Chen said that the government should conduct a cost benefit analysis (CBA) and have a complete TPPA data set for evaluation from all parties.
The government has also been reminded to remain cautious and vigilant, and to consider calls from PR and stakeholders.
“We wish to dispel the impression that we are beginning to agree with the government on the TPPA.
“In fact, it is the government that has become more acceptable of our views,” they said in a statement today.
On May 24, the Minister of International Trade and Industry, Datuk Seri Mustapha Mohamed, in a statement, said that PR is starting to be of the same opinion and agree with the TPPA, which will be signed with the United States of America (USA).
However, PR Members of Parliament said that as long as the US is not transparent and clear on some points, the Federal Government does not need to agree to the TPPA.
“There are four key issues that we want the government to pay attention to, these being the increase in price of software, drugs and textbooks, loss of food security, chances of being sued at the international tribunal by investors and pre-investment from US companies.
“Therefore, as long as these things are not clear, we should not sign because our neighbours, like Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines, have not joined the TPPA. Even China is not a member of the TPPA,” he said.
NS
