The Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) today chided PKR's Kelana Jaya MP Wong Chen for making untrue and irresponsible statements regarding the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA).

Although the ministry did not name Wong in its statement issued late last night, it referred to the allegation made by the first-term MP in Parliament lobby yesterday that a study by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has recommended that Malaysia not sign the TPPA.

"MITI would like to categorically state that none of these allegations are true. MITI would also stress that these allegations grossly misrepresent the Malaysian government's position with regard to our trade agenda," read the statement.

Wong, who heads PKR's trade and investment bureau, initially claimed he had held several meetings with European representatives who informed him about the UNDP report.

But in a separate statement issued later yesterday, Wong clarified that he had met US embassy officials and EU representatives, who are familiar with the TPPA but are not trade negotiators, as said earlier.

Government slammed

He added that it was the US officials who quoted their sources about the UNDP report's recommendation, while the EU representatives offered no opinion on the report.

Wong also slammed the government for refusing to disclose the UNDP's cost-benefit analysis to opposition members of Parliament in spite of requests.

However MITI explained that the study by UNDP lists key advantages and challenges for Malaysia vis-à-vis the TPPA.

"Among other things, the study also contains key recommendations regarding Malaysia's negotiating positions across all areas being negotiated in the TPPA, hence the reason why MITI is not able to release this document yet.

"MITI would also reiterate that the Ministry is committed to safeguarding Malaysia's economic and trade interests vigorously across all our international engagements, including the TPPA," the ministry added.