State to support tabling of TPPA in Parliament

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Adenan

Adenan

KUCHING: The state government has agreed to support the tabling of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) in Parliament on Jan 26-28 and its implementation in 2018.

Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem said globalisation has made the trade agreement vital to the nation and state’s economic growth.

“We must have an open market system in view of globalisation and mass communications. In the history of Malaysia, we have always been a trading industry and not self-contained. Until now
we are (still) in the trading industry,” he said following a briefing by Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed here yesterday.

Adenan also pointed out that all countries that are part of the global trading system cannot isolate themselves and Malaysia is no exception.

“We cannot close our doors from international trade, otherwise we can become like North Korea,” he said.

The TPPA would also create a competitive edge for businesses, he said, because it offers more pros than cons.

Adenan also addressed concerns over the TPPA’s effects on Bumiputera economic rights.

“I think we have succeeded to make an exception in regards to the New Economic Policy, which is a Bumiputera biased policy,” he said, adding that the policy would continue to safeguard the rights of Bumiputeras.

On matters affecting Native Customary Rights (NCR) land, Adenan said the TPPA would need to be further studied but added there was a very low possibility the agreement would have any effect on landowners.

Among those present were Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, Minister of Infrastructure Development and Communication Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong, State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohd Morshidi Abdul Ghani, State Legislative Assembly speaker Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar and Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Ahmad Maslan.