The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) has decided to boycott tomorrow’s consultation session by the International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) to get inputs on the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA).

CAP president SM Mohamed Idris decried the session as “a sham” as the ministry has failed to consider its numerous urgings to withdraw from the TPPA.

“We have raised a number of concerns and red lines to the Malaysian government but these are yet to be adequately addressed,” said Mohamed in a press conference today.

“The assurances that the government would not agree to provisions that are against national interests are mere assurances,” he added.

“How would we know what is being negotiated on our behalf when the draft text is not revealed?” he asked.

Idris ( left ) said the purported benefits of the TPPA are still unsubstantiated.

He added that Miti has invited CAP to attend another consultation tomorrow in Kuala Lumpur.

This is ahead of  a meeting with ministers of TPP negotiating countries to be held in Singapore at the end of February.

“The invitation was only sent by fax to CAP on Feb 11. Besides the short notice, we are dismayed that the issues that CAP had raised in our letters and previous consultations have not been taken into serious consideration,” Idris lamented.

“Hence, CAP will be boycotting this consultation.”

The countries currently negotiating the TPPA are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam.

Negotiate with an open mind

 

Meanwhile, Miti chief Mustapa Mohamed confirmed that his ministry will be meeting stakeholders like NGOs tomorrow, while the focus next week will be on BN and Pakatan representatives.

"The purpose of the meeting is to share with them our position," he said when asked what was the progress of negotiations over the talks.

"In our view, we have somewhere to go. As a trading nation, we need to have an open mind, one of the biggest benefits to come from this is market access, production and cost of doing business," he added at a press conference after the opening ceremony of aircraft component manufacturer, Aviatron (M) Sdn Bhd at the Penang Science Park in Batu Kawan today.

"It is also about shaping the global trade agenda. We also recognise the downside."

Mustapa ( right ) said concerns are being expressed by various sectors and not only from one community. He assured them "there is no difference between theirs and the government's position”.

"We are going into the negotiations with an open mind, bearing in mind that we are there to protect the national interest.”

When asked about how serious the government was in listening to the views of NGOs as the NGOs claimed otherwise and have even launched a boycott of tomorrow's meeting, Mustapa said, "We are on the same page on most issues."

"We have an open mind, we are a free country," he quipped, before reporters were stopped from asking him questions beyond the issue of aviation.