KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 27 – A backbencher today proposed the setting up of a research institute on the Trans-Pacific Partnership to formulate and implement the national economic agenda, including empowering the Bumiputera economy. Datuk Hasan Arifin (BN-Rompin) said the institute should comprise various parties with diverse backgrounds, including opposition MPs.
The establishment of such an institute would be seen as a proactive measure for the good of the country,” he said when debating on the motion on the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) at the special sitting of the Dewan Rakyat. Hasan said the agreement was fundamental for Malaysia to strengthen the national economy and expand free trade relations with other countries, including the United States.
He said Malaysia’s participation in the TPPA would also increase the income of the bottom 40 per cent (B40) households to RM3,855, while the M40 (40 per cent medium income group) would earn between RM3,860 and RM8,319. Sim Chee Keong (DAP-Bukit Mertajam) agreed with the proposal, but felt that the institute should be established before the signing of the TPPA.
Ong Kian Meng (DAP-Serdang) suggested that a select committee be set up in the Parliament to monitor the implementation of the TPPA before it was signed. Ong said the committee, which should comprise representatives from both the government and the opposition bloc, could ensure that the participation of Malaysia in the TPPA was transparent and effective.
“The committee can act to supervise and monitor a total of 26 amendments to 17 acts specified by the minister (Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed) yesterday, which has to be done within two years, before the TPPA is implemented,” he said.
Citing several acts under the Ministry of Human Resources to be amended under the TPPA, including labour laws, Ong said more research should be done because the agreement provided more room to employees, especially migrant workers, to form trade unions.
“Does the government have any detailed plan on issues that would arise if more foreign workers hold office in unions than local workers, or if they set up their own trade unions?” he asked, adding that the committee should be given a role to monitor the process of the amendment of the acts involved, for them to be more transparent and fair to Malaysia.
In the meantime, Datuk Noraini Ahmad (BN-Parit Sulong), who interjected during Ong’s debate at Dewan Rakyat here today and also agreed with his point, while said that the opposition MP are actually agreed with the TPPA but was forced to deny its benefits.
Mustapa, when presenting the motion on the TPPA, said 26 amendments had to be made in 17 local laws to take into account some of the agreements by the TPPA member countries. Among the acts are the Customs Act, Free Zones Act, Patent Act, the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act, Copyright Act, Trade Unions Act and the Private Employment Agencies Act.
