We refer to the malaysiakini report Rafidah denies US talks will hurt rice farmers .
We, the representative of farmers, fisher folks, consumers and NGOs in the northern region welcome this response by Dato' Seri Rafidah Aziz over the rice issue in the US FTA.
However, the request for the Malaysian government to disclose the details of the FTA negotiations between Malaysia and the US is not new. Many groups, including the Action Committee Against the US FTA, have requested the government to be more transparent over the negotiations not only on issues pertaining to rice but also other issues involving public interests which are at stake.
The action committee would like further clarification from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry over the US response to the request by the Malaysian government to exclude rice from the negotiations. As the negotiations have not concluded, we fear the rice issue may be put on the table again further on in the negotiations.
We further note that the FTA deal will have wide ranging implications on our lives and the lives of all Malaysians especially those in the rural communities. For example, stronger intellectual property provisions mean:
- agricultural chemicals used by farmers are likely to be more expensive;
With a FTA with the US, small local entrepreneur products cannot be protected as any such measure will be seen as a non-tariff barrier.
Farmers are also concerned over the pressure by the US biotech industry which is lobbying for their genetically-engineered products to enter Malaysia under the US FTA. The impact on health and environment of such products are still contested. Genetically engineered crops will surely force local farmers to depend more on the biotech industry, in turn causing them (the farmers) to incur higher long-term costs eventually.
We are very concerned that the Malaysian government has not done a comprehensive cost- benefit assessment with regards to the US FTA and is proceeding with negotiations without any consultation with farmers like us and the public at large.
We urge the Malaysian government to halt further negotiations on the US FTA until we fully know how it will affect our farmers and that our food security will not be compromised. The full extent of its impact on the public especially the rural communities should also be discussed with those affected.
It is not enough to give us mere reassurances. We need to know if our government has done a detailed cost-benefit assessment to show that Malaysians will gain and that public interests will not be compromised.
The writer represents the Action Committee Against the US FTA. Groups that support this statement:
- Badan Bertindak Petani Mada
