President Obama's visit to Malaysia has nothing to do with the TPPA and he is not coming to ink the agreement as claimed by certain quarters.
There is no reason for public to hold a protest as the agreement does not come to an end yet.
Besides, Malaysia would not succumb to any pressure and will not sign the agreement if it tarnishes national interest.
Datuk Seri Mustapha Mohamad, the Minister of International Trade and Industry said the agreement will only be signed on Malaysia's terms and not as alleged by few parties.
Datuk Seri Mustapha Mohamad
"The government has not made much progress in negotiations on the matter due to lots of outstanding issues," he explained.
He added that national interest is the most vital in the accepting of the agreement.
The latest negotiations in Washington which ended on September 21 could not resolve the issues raised during previous negotiations in Brunei.
Some of the issues are government procurement, investors' state dispute settlements, environmental matters and intellectual property rights.
Mustapha assured that the government will not sign if it disturbed Bumiputera rights.
Apart from that, he stated that TPPA is under his responsibility and he oversees the main matters such as internal and domestic investments, and trade policies.
"The TPPA is under my purview. But there are people comprising experts from relevant ministries who are tasked with the negotiations based on the mandate given by the Cabinet," Mustapha said.
According to him, the leaders will find ways of solving the outstanding issues.
Malaysia hopes to trash it out from the last round of discussion at the next meeting in Bali next month.
The TPPA involves Malaysia and 11 other countries like Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam.
He added that national interest is the most vital in the accepting of the agreement.
The latest negotiations in Washington which ended on September 21 could not resolve the issues raised during previous negotiations in Brunei.
Some of the issues are government procurement, investors' state dispute settlements, environmental matters and intellectual property rights.
Mustapha assured that the government will not sign if it disturbed Bumiputera rights.
Apart from that, he stated that TPPA is under his responsibility and he oversees the main matters such as internal and domestic investments, and trade policies.
"The TPPA is under my purview. But there are people comprising experts from relevant ministries who are tasked with the negotiations based on the mandate given by the Cabinet," Mustapha said.
According to him, the leaders will find ways of solving the outstanding issues.
Malaysia hopes to trash it out from the last round of discussion at the next meeting in Bali next month.
The TPPA involves Malaysia and 11 other countries like Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam.
source: wearefuturejournalists.blogspot.com
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