Tenaganita urges all Members of Parliament to study the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) carefully and to ensure that they thoroughly understand the full implications of the proposed trade agreement in its entirety before voting on it. Mere assurances given by government ministers cannot and should not be the basis for supporting the proposed trade agreement.

The discussions and negotiations on the TPPA, have for long been shrouded in secrecy. Now, Malaysians are given an indecently short time to study and digest the 6,000-odd pages of economic and legal jargon which would have far reaching consequences on our lives, and the economy and sovereignty of our country.

All available studies on the impact of the TPPA by independent experts show that the potential benefits of the Agreement are negligible.

The manner in which the TPPA has been conceived, developed and is being foisted upon us is an affront to Malaysians in general, and to parliamentarians in particular; without being given sufficient time and opportunity to scrutinise the 6,000-over pages of the trade agreement, Members of Parliament are being asked to approve the government’s signing of the trade agreement.

International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed has said that some 26 state and federal laws, regulations and circulars especially those relating to intellectual property rights, labour and government procurement need to be amended within the next two years. However these amendments can only be made AFTER the trade pact is approved by Parliament.

Members of Parliament have the right and responsibility to know what exactly these amendments are, and its impact on the rakyat, BEFORE they are asked to vote on the TPPA. Furthermore, if indeed the amendments are beneficial for the country, why do they have to wait until after the TPPA is approved by Parliament?

What is more disconcerting is that even the international trade and industry minister, one of the most vocal champions of the TPPA is unclear about what signing the trade pact means for labour practices in Malaysia. The TPPA requires all member states to adopt laws that protect the rights enshrined in the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, including the right to form unions and bargain collectively.

Mustapa however told reporters that migrant workers will not be accorded same rights as local workers post-TPPA ( Bernama , Jan 18, 2016). This has shown that supporters of the TPPA at the top cannot grasp the full extent of what the agreement means and how Malaysia intends to fulfill its commitment to it.

There is far too much uncertainty and unanswered questions surrounding the TPPA, while what is known about it gives much cause for concern. The real beneficiaries of the TPPA would be the transnational corporations who are the main sponsors of the trade pact.

Tenaganita urges all Members of Parliament not to be rushed into approving something that can have far-reaching consequences, without careful study and consultation with the people. We also call upon the members of parliament to demand a Human Rights Impact assessment of the TTPA before they are asked to vote on it.

The only option available for any responsible and conscientious representative of the people is to vote against, or at least abstain from supporting the TPPA, if their political affiliation prevents them from voting against the proposal.

GLORENE A DAS is executive director, Tenaganita Women’s Force.