Government insist on defending state rights, national policies like whatever is left of the Bumiputera affirmative action policy, and nation's sovereignty and constitution.
If the TPPA is signed, Malaysia will have to dismantle it's SOE or State owned enterprise, which goes counter to their economic model for a Temasek-like organisation to lead the local economy.
There are many other troubling issues but the Malaysian government is reluctant to withdraw from negotiation. For a world top 20 trading nation, Malaysia is dependent on trade for economic sustainability.
It is to Malaysia's interest to be part of the negotiation to form the partnership agreement. That is the way to protect the nation's interest. If Malaysia is to cop out now and then rejoin later, it will have to accept without question what other countries have agreed.
The pro-TPPA claim that it is good for trade but does TPPA really help trade?
The Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) believes it does. [Read on in The Star here.]
ACCCIM legal affairs committee chairman Michael Chai felt that the issues raised against TPPA is based on speculation and rumours circulated among misinformed groups and by the Internet. It is only "fear of the unknown" and speculating repercussions.
The association of 97% DAP voting members wants to assist the Government to garner feedback from Malaysian businessmen and educate the public on the TPPA. If that is not believeable, ACCCIM believes that "national interests should take precedence over corporate interests."
How comforting to know that ACCCIM does not see TPPA as a mega hostile takeover of nations by a coalition of multi-national corporations that is hiding behind the cloak of the American government and it's millitary might but financially bankcrupt?
ACCCIM see "opening up market is good" for a trading nation like Malaysia and find no problem with the secrecy, in which Wikileak had published intellectual property chapter document three days ago [download here].
Also revealed was attempt by multinational publishers to deny individual's “right to education” by seeking copyright terms of up to 120 years for books and educational papers.
Hollywood is lobbying for local internet service providers (ISP) liable for any copyright infringement. [Read in The Malay Mail Online here and here.]
Unless JJ calls them up to pull the brakes, the comfort is our negotiation team had been commendable and steadfast in defending our interest.
However, Datuk Seri Mustapha Mohamed's response to the leak and demand for access to the documents is consistent. The lawmakers will get their wishes when it is ready to be signed. [Read Malay Mail Online here and here.]
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| At all cost? |
In her press release, Auckland University Profesor Jane Kelsey commented that there is a "a massive gulf between US demands and a bloc of other countries, including New Zealand." [Read in here and the links already analysing the leak douments.]
It confirms Klang MP Charles Santiago comment that TPPA "was actually a disguised bid by US corporations to create monopolies across industries and are "not interested in free trade."
Putting aside The Edge's inclination for PKR, they have proved in their reports [read here and here] that TPPA does not open the global market to Malaysia but only open Malaysia to copyright lawsuits from American MNCs.
Professor Jane Kelsey highlighted that New York Times reported “Other members have signaled their opposition independently, meaning that roughly 40 percent to 50 percent of House members (American House of Congress) have signaled, sight unseen, that they do not support the regional trade pact.”
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| "Yes maam" |
The irony is ACCCIM, who claim to believe that national interest should supercede corporate interest, would like to assist the American MNCs to blind Malaysian businessmen into thinking that an agreement not endorsed by a significant numbers of American congressmen is good for their business.
Their interest with the American MNCs can be apparent but why are the likes of Dato Idris Jala and PEMANDU, Dato Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis, Dato Omar Ong and many others are keen for TPPA?
Another force in play is Obama's equally secret US-EU pact for TTIP. Together with TPP, it will dominate more than 60 per cent of global GDP.
The temptation is to described them as myopic but like ACCCIM, they must be driven by self-interest. Let's explore that at another posting.
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| In God we trust and in MNCs, the nation's future? |
For now, instead of letting only lawmakers to see, express their positions in the media or Parliament, and determine the course of the nation, can we have a NATIONAL REFERENDUM on the TPPA?
This nation does not belong only to businessmen and their commercial interest, lawmakers and their politics, and businessmen disguising as lawmakers, policymakers, and politicians.