The cost-benefit analyses of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA), which has been completed, is expected to be released in Parliament this week, says International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed.

The analyses on the 21st Century regional trade pact by international auditor PricewaterhouseCoopers and premier think tank, Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS), are currently being printed, Mustapa said.

"They highlighted the good and the bad, the two sides of the TPPA coin. Hence, it's up to the rakyat to make their decision.

"What I know is that they studied the benefits that we can get inlcuding the challenges that we will face when we are a part of the TPP," he told reporters after attending the TPPA townhall session in Kuala Lumpur today.

The TPPA is a free trade agreement negotiated among 12 countries - Australia, the United States, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Brunei, Singapore, Japan, Vietnam and Malaysia.

The TPPA dialogue, which was run in an open and transparent, was attended by over 1,500 participants including non-governmental organisations which opposed the TPPA.

Mustapa said many participants had read the TPPA agreement as they quoted certain chapters of the draft during the question-and-answer session.

“We’re encouraged with this kind of intelligent debate. We do not want Malaysia to sign the agreement blindly. We also listen carefully to the constructive criticisms,” he said.

Mustapa stressed that Malaysia was a relatively open economy and depended on external trade, investment and tourism and should continue to compete in a globally competitive economy.

“Globalisation is happening and it’s going to happen. We can’t stop it,” he said.

However, he said the government was doing the best possible to protect the country’s constitution and bumiputera policies under the TPPA.

“Now, we think there are challenges. But, many Asean countries repeatedly expressed interest in joining the TPPA. So, we will suffer a big loss if we walk out now,” he said.

Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand have expressed their interest to join the TPPA recently.

- Bernama