KUALA LUMPUR: The government will continue to disseminate information among Bumiputeras on the benefits of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) to the country, says Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Hamim Samuri.
Briefing sessions would also touch on steps taken by the government to ensure that the special position of the Bumiputeras are safeguarded under the TPPA, he said in reply to Anuar Manap (BN-Sekijang) in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Hamim explained that state governments, non-governmental organisations, representatives from chambers of commerce and industry and, tertiary students would be briefed and given a status update on the latest TPPA negotiations.
Meanwhile, to a supplementary question from Nga Kor Ming (DAP-Taiping) on whether the cost of medicines would rise following the implementation of the TPPA, Hamim said Malaysia was firm in rejecting the suggestion which is related to intellectual property rights under the TPPA.
“The issue of whether drugs should be negotiated under the TPPA is still being deliberated and Malaysia was most vocal over the issue.
“We realise its implications as price of drugs will escalate and impact the peoples’ quality of life,” he said, adding that there was no timeframe set as to when the TPPA will be finalised.
The TPPA is a free trade agreement which involves the United States, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Canada, Australia, Japan, Peru, New Zealand, Chile, Mexico and Brunei. — Bernama