TPP: Free but NOT FAIR

The secretive manner in which Malaysia joined the controversial Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) continues to be questioned.

"This TPP may have been in the spirit of ‘Free Trade’, but is it truly a ‘fair trade’ deal for the citizens of our country?" asked Lembah Pantai member of parliament Nurul Izzah Anwar.

Nurul said the scale and size of the TPP, a free trade agreement involving 11 countries spearheaded by Washington, was enough for the government to consult the public through their elected representatives.

"This unfortunate exclusion from discussions, debates or any other form of participation let alone the entire process of obtaining a Parliamentary ratification denies the public their right to oversight and scrutiny of international treaties and agreements – be they bilateral or multilateral – which could affect national interests and sovereignty," Nurul said in a statement, amid growing calls for Malaysia to quit the grouping.

Also known as the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement, TPP is aimed at liberalising Asia-Pacific economies. The US-led initiative aims to link its economy to fast-growing markets in the region, and apart from the US, it includes Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Peru, Mexico, Chile, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and Brunei.

Nurul expressed worries that the government would go ahead signing the TPP agreement without seeking public opinion.

The PKR vice president added that while her party supported free trade on condition that stakeholders were consulted, it must not compromise "socio-economic sphere, environment, cultural domain, labour rights, public safety and national security."

"On that premise, we call for a parliamentary expert study group on TPP – formed of Malaysian experts and specialists drawn from around the world – to be immediately convened to look into the nuts and bolts of the FTA," she suggested.

She stressed the reasons for opposing the TPP, including its granting of greater legal rights on foreign businesses to enable them circumvent local laws for dispute settlement.

"This is especially frightening as it allows foreign corporations to circumvent laws and regulations enacted by our Government in public interest such as those pertaining to natural resource, environmental protection, and health policies," said Nurul.

On the claim by Peterson Institute that Malaysia would gain through TPP, Nurul said it left out questions of inequality or environmental sustainability.

"Hence, we see TPP, and especially the processes leading to its ultimate acession, to be fraught with various social, political and economic risks, which could undermine the very integrity of the agreement eventually," she stressed, adding that she planned to propose in parliament for a 'Parliamentary Expert Group' on TPP.

"Our concerns are not trivial. We will not accept the blind faith assurances that the Malaysian Government would perform its duties when they have failed miserably to protect our national interest and sovereignty in the past."

- Harakah Daily