A special cabinet meeting today resolved that Malaysia should not be bound by any fixed timeline to ratify the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) due to many unresolved  issues.
 
In a press release today, the International Trade and Industry Ministry (MITI) said such issues includes state-owned enterprises, labour and intellectual property rights (IPR).
 
According to Miti, the special cabinet meeting, involving all lead negotiators from various ministries, was held to update and seek a fresh mandate from cabinet.
 
Normally, cabinet meetings are held on Wednesdays or on Fridays when Parliament is in session.
 
The special meeting was held ahead of the 19th round of TPPA negotiations which will be held in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei from Aug 23 to Aug 30.
 
Miti’s press release also said that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his cabinet had directed negotiators to ensure Malaysia’s sovereignty.
 
“They are unanimous in reinforcing Malaysia’s position that we will only agree to the TPPA with terms that are most favourable to our country,” read the release.

Affordable medicine

Miti also said that cabinet had ordered two more cost benefit analyses be performed.
 
“It will focus on interests of small-medium enterprises and the bumiputra business community as well as a comprehensive analysis on national interests,” said Miti.
 
Cabinet had also decided that it will not agree to any proposal in the TPPA which would deny Malaysians access to affordable medicines and healthcare.
 
“Cabinet is firm in ensuring access to affordable medicine remains its utmost priority which will not be compromised in the ongoing TPPA negotiations.
 
“Cabinet also took note of the request to exclude tobacco and tobacco products from the TPPA,” read the release.