TPPA debate tough without shadow cabinet, minister tells Nurul Izzah
The Opposition bench is finding it gruelling to finish going through 6,350 pages of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) text prior to the debate in Parliament tomorrow, because it has not been organised enough to appoint a shadow cabinet, minister Salleh Said Keruak said.
He was responding to PKR’s Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, who complained that the 60-day grace period is not enough for the MPs to truly study the complicated text made public in October.
Salleh said in the UK, the task of debating the TPPA would fall on the shoulders of the shadow trade minister, who will prepare for the parliamentary debate with his team.
“Unfortunately, Malaysia does not have a shadow cabinet or a shadow trade minister, and this is the main problem here.
“And because of that, the opposition is quite lost as to what to do,” the communications and multimedia minister said in his blog.
Parliament will debate the TPPA over the next two days, with the agreement to be signed in New Zealand in February if it is approved.
The Opposition bench has never appointed a shadow cabinet, but had previously attempted to present “shadow committees” made up of representatives from its various parties.
“Let us have a good and healthy debate in Parliament. The government will explain why the TPP is good for the country while the opposition can explain why it disagrees.
“Finally, in the spirit of a parliamentary democracy, a vote will be taken and the majority will rule,” Salleh said.
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