Protesters are gathering in Kuala Lumpur to pressure Putrajaya to reject the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA). – The Malaysian Insider pic by Seth Akmal, January 23, 2016.
In a last ditch attempt to pressure Putrajaya to reject the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA), several groups are converging on the capital city at 2pm today, two days before a special parliamentary sitting on the trade deal.
Some of the loudest voices against the TPPA have been Malay groups that include the Malay Economic Action Council (MTEM) that will rally with others under the banner of Bantah TPPA.
Another group, Kongres Rakyat is a PAS-backed NGO while right-wing Malay group Perkasa is expected to participate.
Other opposition to the TPPA includes concerns that the price of medicines will be higher, and that small and medium enterprises serving the domestic market could go under.
A respected economist has also said that the trade deal could lead to greater inequality and job losses over 10-year period.
To these concerns, however, advocates of the deal such as business associations have countered that greater competition will help companies grow stronger and have asked detractors to provide more facts.
The International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) has also said that the agreement contains various mechanisms that protect Malaysian companies and the government when facing investor lawsuits.
Overall, the secrecy surrounding negotiations on the deal and Putrajaya’s inability to explain its terms clearly and simply have fuelled fears of its impact on Malaysia.
Other groups critical of the TPPA and which are expected to be at today's rally are Muslim NGO Isma, Parti Sosialis Malaysia, Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) and Bersih 2.0.
Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has also criticised the TPPA, saying it was “entirely dedicated to regulating trade” when Malaysia was already free to trade with whomever it wanted.
Police have cordoned off the roads leading to Dataran Negara. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Seth Akmal, January 23, 2016.Protesters at today's rally original set sights on Dataran Merdeka as their convergence point, but have been told by police and the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to gather at Padang Merbok instead.
Police have cordoned off Dataran Merdeka and protesters are expected to gather at five meeting points, Masjid Negara, Masjid India, Masjid Jamek, Sogo and Maju Junction.
The TPPA, involving 12 member countries, is expected to be ratified in New Zealand next month.
The Malaysian Insider brings you live updates of the gathering:
1.48pm: At Chow Kit, activist Nor Akmar from PKKIM Ikhlas says the group has brought about 100 people to the protest, some of whom are homeless and concerned about the higher price of medicine.
Nor Akmar said PKKIM has gone round to the homeless in Kuala Lumpur explaining the TPPA's impact. PKKIM is an NGO under the Malaysian AIDS council.
2.12pm: Mohd Azman Mohd Izwan, 25, from Taiping, Perak, says he arrived at the capital city at 8am to participate in the protest.
The PAS supporter says he hopes Putrajaya will reject the TPPA after the rally today.
“I don’t want foreigners to control our economy,” he says outside the Sogo shopping complex.
The crowd from Maju Junction, meanwhile, has arrived at Sogo. The two groups are now preparing to march to Dataran Merdeka. Many are waving the Jalur Gemilang.
1.45pm: PKR vice-president Chua Tian Chang arrives to join the crowd at Sogo.
Some 200 members from PAS's Unit Amal in Terengganu, Pahang and Kelantan are helping with crowd control here.
1.41pm: PSM leader S. Arutchelvan tells reporters that the group at Maju Junction intends to march to Dataran Merdeka and will try to get as close as they can to the square. Police and DBKL, however, have declared the square out of bounds for the rally.
Amanah president Mohamed Sabu, meanwhile, is seen arriving at Maju Junction.
1.38pm: At Maju Junction, four groups have gathered and are preparing to march. They are PSM, Amanah, Positive Malaysian Treatment Access and Advocacy Group, and Persatuan Kebajikan Kakitangan Islam (PKKIM) Ikhlas.
Officers from the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) are seen; they have been deployed to monitor the rally.
1.27pm: People clad in green t-shirts with the words “Himpunan Fastaqim 60k” have gathered outside Masjid Negara. They are believed to be PAS members.
Stalls selling light snacks around the national mosque are attracting crowds as they wait for the signal to march.
Police, however, have closed the road leading from the mosque to Dataran Negara.
Other roads closed are Jalan Parlimen near the DBKL headquarters, where traffic is being diverted to Jalan Raja.
Jalan Tun Perak is clogged up with supporters wearing green t-shirts and blowing vuvuzelas.
MORE TO COME
- TMI
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.