Pray tell us, what can TPPA offer our people?

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This article has earlier appeared in Beritadaily.com on 6/1/2016

The negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, or better known by its acronym, TPPA, which includes Malaysia has taken place for about eight years.

Prime Minister Najib Razak also announced in his Budget 2016 speech that Malaysia had agreed in principal to join the US-sponsored trade agreement because of its benefits to our people.

The TPPA is expected to be tabled in parliament on Jan 26, following which a vote will take place in order to set the course for the government to officially endorse the trade agreement which is due to be officially sealed in February 2016.

Much has been said by the government on the goodness of the TPPA but if there are so many goodies in this trade agreement, why hasn’t the government revealed details of them? Why weren't any of the details outlined to the general public if this pact could serve the interest of our people-at-large?

Najib and his government has insisted that there was no reason for Malaysia to walk away from the TPPA right now. He has even outlined in brief some of the benefits of the TPPA in the recently concluded Umno general assembly but did not elaborate on the detailed trade benefits that would really serve the interest of our entire population.

As the endorsement and signing ceremony of the TPPA is approaching, the government has been rushing its effort to convince all parties by outlining the major benefits of the trade agreement.

Uncertainties in government’s efforts

However, the government’s efforts seem to be blurred and uncertain. After so many years of negotiations, this government and its officials are still clueless on how to carry out all the necessary explanations, such as what should be outlined, the impact of TPPA on our people, which segments to focus on, priorities and their real targeted audience.

Until today, there has been still no real public briefings taking place but a more business-structured and corporate kind of briefings have been organised so far, where businesses and corporate leaders have been called upon to participate.

So, are these real public briefings? Can the ordinary people out there really understand the various corporate and trade jargons presented to be only actually understood by business and corporate figures?

The government is busy outlining the benefits that will only serve a small segment of our population, in particular small group of businesses and industries. What the government failed to outline is the impacts of the TPPA that could possibly harm our nation’s sovereignty and the livelihood our people in general.

And if the impacts are potentially negative, such as rising inflation, certain effects on SMEs, labour rights and sanctions of imports from non-TPPA nations, and on what necessary remedies that this government could offer to ease the burden of our people.

Increasing socio-economic concerns

Right now, the political and economic uncertainties have become increasingly worrisome and the majority of our people are mostly concerned about what would become of their livelihood in the near future.

The big question here is, can the TPPA benefit every single man, woman and child as what the government has been claiming?

Then what are these benefits for these people? Can this government go down to the ground to talk to the people, ask them if they have prospered or otherwise, and let them know how this TPPA could help them?

We doubt that! It could be a grave disappointment in the end of the day.

If the people couldn’t get on with existing income, well, as a minister said, just take up two or three jobs.

MITI knows best?

The other question here, is the Ministry of International Trade and Industries (MITI) the only government agency in this nation that has been undertaking the TPPA negotiations?

As far as we know, apart from MITI, there were more that 15 other government ministries, departments, agencies and government-linked companies (GLCs) who had participated in the TPPA negotiations.

So, why only MITI alone has been tasked to brief the entire nation on this trade agreement? Why the other ministries, departments, agencies and GLCs in regards to their respective sectors and fields are not given the same responsibilities to outline the TPPA details to the respective segments of industries?

It is very unfortunate and disappointing that this government has been so disorganised in providing adequate explanations on these issues, and only resorts to condemning and ignoring those who oppose the TPPA by labelling them as “noise makers”.

By the way, will opposing TPPA become a seditious offence in future?

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