BN Backbencher's Council (BNBBC) chairperson Shahrir Abdul Samad has lauded the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) as being more equal than international bodies such as the UN and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

He said under the TPPA, parties to the agreement would make decisions by consensus.

In contrast, UN Security Council resolutions can be vetoed by any of its five permanent member countries, while decisions in the IMF are made by majority vote based on the financial strength of the countries involved.

“ In the TPPA, they require decisions by consensus, and the best part is, it is the Asean model, so everyone is as powerful as the next,” he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur today.

He said this is among the pros of the TPPA that helped convince early sceptics like himself that TPPA would be beneficial to the country.

Shahrir also took a swipe at the federal opposition, saying that they are only interested in opposing TPPA for political mileage.

“I think they would be split. They know about the positive reception amongst traders and SMEs, but despite this, the better transparency and so on, they would find fault with it […]

“So although there are benefits, the opposition would oppose it for political reasons, unfortunately. That is Malaysia,” he said.

'Trade unionists should be happy'

As an example, he claimed that PKR's Kuala Langat MP Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid should "happily welcome" the TPPA, given his background as a trade unionist.

However, he said Abdullah Sani may be barred from doing so by his party.

As part of the TPPA negotiations, Malaysia had signed an agreement on labour issues with the US, which comes into effect when TPPA is in force.

Amongst others, this agreement stipulates for a reduction of the director-general of trade union's powers, hence allowing trade unions to form more easily.

It also relaxes requirements for launching labour strikes, and bars employers from withholding the pasports of migrant workers.

The TPPA will be debated for two days in the Dewan Rakyat starting tomorrow, followed by debates in the Senate on Thursday.

If approved by both Houses, Malaysia will sign the agreement in February, starting a two-year ratification process.

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