'Kota Kinabalu chosen as TPPA venue to avoid protests'

Kota Kinabalu, Sabah was chosen as the venue for the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) negotiations in an attempt to avoid protests, claimed an ppposition think-tank.

Institut Rakyat, formed by PKR, said that Kota Kinabalu was selected for the 18th round of discussion "in order to reduce the likelihood of protests. The United States in particular, as the principal driver of the talks, has been keen to avoid negative publicity".

However, in a statement, it pointed out that “concerned citizens” have not let the choice of venue stop them, citing the arrests of 11 protesters last weekend.

On Saturday, 11 out of around 50 people protesting the TPPA across the road from the Harbour Sutera Hotel were picked up by police, who allegedly used drug laws to force them to abandon their demonstration.

Their statements were, however, later taken under the Peaceful Assembly Act.

The TPPA negotiations have drawn large criticism, partly due to the secret nature of negotiation between the 12-member countries involved, with many expressing concern the deal will affect the livelihood of local businesses.

Stating that transparency over the trade negotiations is fundamental, Institut Rakyat also reiterated PKR's call for a cost-benefit analysis of the trade agreement be made public.

“Pakatan Rakyat MPs have demanded that the Malaysian government produce a cost-benefit analysis of the TPP. No negotiator should enter talks without a clear idea of the gains and losses.

“Despite Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI)’s promise to produce a TPP assessment report coordinated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) within two weeks after a meeting with a few Pakatan Rakyat MPs and Institut Rakyat in June 2013, no information has been forthcoming so far,” it said.

Malaysia 'mouse between two raging elephants'

With talks expected to be concluded in October, it stated that Malaysia must weigh up the economic and political opportunities and costs before signing any far-reaching agreement.

The TPPA, it said, was widely viewed as a US move to reduce China's influence in the region and that Malaysia should be careful not to be caught in the middle of the two giants.

"Malaysia already enjoys good trading relations with both the US and China. During the first five months of 2013, China was our largest trading partner (14.3 percent) while the US was fifth (8.1 percent).

"We should tread carefully in any trade talks so as not to become the mouse deer trapped between two raging elephants."

Institut Rakyat further raised concerns about that the ability for transnational companies to sue the government, stating this could restrict Malaysia's ability to expel "environmentally-harmful companies", citing the controversial Lynas rare earths refinery.

"The Malaysian government prides itself on being a representative democracy so it must be transparent to its people about the deal it is making because it will affect our future in the Asia-Pacific region."