Government open to negative comments on TPP pact, says Mustapa

0

OPEN TO FEEDBACK: Photo shows representatives during the TPPA press conference on Thursday. The government is open to negative feedback and comments on the ongoing Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement negotiations, which are expected to conclude by year-end. — Bernama photo

PUTRAJAYA: The government is open to negative feedback and comments on the ongoing Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) negotiations, which are expected to conclude by year-end.

International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said although there have been more negative than positive comments on the agreement, the government is prepared to listen to them.

“We understand the concern expressed by the public on certain issues that we negotiate on, but I want to emphasise once again that this work is still on progress and nothing has been finalised.

“Therefore all the feedback given is very useful for us in dealing with other negotiators,” he told a media briefing after the soft launch of the Malaysia-China Entrepreneurs Conference yesterday.

Mustapa said his ministry will hold an open day on the TPP on August 1 at Matrade, Jalan Duta.

“The first part is a briefing on what is happening in Kota Kinabalu at the 18th round of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations,” he said.

The second part features a forum with comments and views from panellists and questions from the floor, while the last part is a workshop for six to seven smaller groups on areas like drugs, Bumiputera issue, small and medium enterprises, intellectual property rights and the labour environment.

Mustapa said these three components would be a platform for the government to receive opinions from private sector and industry players.

Asked about the recent revised downward outlook on Malaysia’s economic growth by the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research to 4.8 per cent for this year from 5.6 per cent estimated earlier, Mustapa said: “The government also has its own official forecast, where economists in government agencies like the Economic Planning Unit, Treasury and Bank Negara monitor the economy and implement economic policy.

“Others like non-governmental organisations, research houses and universities can have their own targets, but the government still believes we can achieve the target of five per cent growth for this year.”

The third edition of the conference, organised by the Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce and TNT Express Malaysia, will be held on Dec 1 at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur.

Themed “Positive Energy Creates Better Opportunities”, it is expected to attract some 1,000 participants from Malaysia, China as well as South Asian and Asean countries. — Bernama