Despite protests and dissenting voice from former government leaders such as Mahathir Mohamad himself against the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA), Gerakan has urged the government to press on and sign the TPPA.

azlanIts newly-elected president Mah Siew Keong said in a statement today that the government withdrawing from the agreement would be a “populist measure” and construe the “easy way out”.

“If we miss this chance of being a part of a multilateral free trade agreement that will benefit the country in the long run now, Malaysia will lag behind other countries and face possible economic ostracism,” he said.

He said that Gerakan is aware of protests against the agreement, which critics say serves American interests over Malaysian interests, and also negative impacts that the agreement would have on small and medium industries (SMI).

“We need to fine-tune some clauses and be tough negotiators to protect Malaysia, but we need not reject the agreement outright,” he said.

“Malaysia’s economy depends on it being a successful trading country,” he further added.