Photo Gallery : Launch of Rethinking Bilateral Investment Treaties

"The Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement is back without the United States and Malaysia has agreed to it.

Today, my friends Burghard Ilge and Kavaljit Singh launched their book along with Karina Yong from Third World Network, and discussed the challenges which lie ahead for Malaysia, especially on giving special rights for only foreign corporations to sue our country.

Investor-State Dispute Settlement or ISDS as it is popularly known, has created a huge ripple in the TPP and another big deal Malaysia is signing, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)."

                                                                       -- Charles Santiago, Director of MSN

No proof Malaysia will benefit from CPTPP, say economists

Source : The Malaysian Insight

Low Han Shaun    Published on 18 Nov 2017

Burghard Ilge says most treaties have survival clauses, meaning they are still in effect for a certain amount of years after the date of termination. 

THERE is no proof that Malaysia will benefit from the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), said economists.

A public forum today was told that the CPTPP, formerly known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), and other similar treaties might even be detrimental to the country.

Activist: Many govts clueless about economic treaties signed

Source : Free Malaysia Today

PETALING JAYA: A senior policy officer with a global sustainability advocacy group says many governments are clueless about the economic treaties they have signed, leaving them open to be sued by foreign investors for “unfulfilled expectations”.

Burghard Ilge of Both ENDS, headquartered in Amsterdam, said the terms of treaties like the planned Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) were usually influenced by powerful investors who wanted the ability to take action on countries that did not meet expected “promises”.

Launch of "Rethinking Bilateral Investment Treaties : Critical Issues and Policy Choices"

Monitoring Sustainability of GlobalizatioN (MSN) cordially invite you to a book launch entitled: "Rethinking Bilateral Investment Treaties : Critical Issues and Policy Choices".

The book launch will coincide with a public forum titled Free Trade Agreement, Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) and Its Impact on Human Rights.

The event details are as follow :

Date : Saturday, 18 November 2017
Time : 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Venue : Event Hall, Gerakbudaya
2, Jalan Bukit 11/2, 46200 Petaling jaya, Selangor.

Photo gallery : Envisioning the Future : Malaysia Beyond GE14 workshop (2)

Photo gallery of the second Envisioning the Future : Malaysia Beyond GE14 workshop on 4 November at Bangsar south city.

Sheriff: Unionise foreign workers to improve labour situation

Source : Free Malaysia Today   Sean Augustin | November 5, 2017

KUALA LUMPUR: A former senior finance ministry official has suggested that foreign workers be allowed to join trade unions as it could help reduce the country’s dependence on labour from overseas in the long run.

Mohd Sheriff Kassim, who was treasury secretary-general in the early 1990s, said foreign workers becoming part of the unions would lead to an increase in wages.

FGV bigger scandal than 1MDB, says economist

Source : Malaysiakini   Published: 4 Nov 2017

The Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd (FGV) scandal is bigger than the one surrounding 1MDB because it affects more people, opined prominent economist Jomo Kwame Sundaram.

“There is a tendency for everyone in the opposition to focus on 1MDB, but there is a lot of nonsense going on and it is not all 1MDB.

Jomo: Malays won’t accept opposition, even if unhappy with BN

Source : Free Malaysia Today   Sean Augustin | November 4, 2017

KUALA LUMPUR: Any “profound sense of disgust” Malays may harbour for the current administration will not necessarily translate to support for the opposition, says Jomo Kwame Sundaram.

The prominent economist said the Malay community had never seen such crass, greedy and immoral behaviour as that exhibited by the current regime.

Envisioning the Future : Malaysia Beyond GE14 (2)

Monitoring Sustainability of Globalisation (MSN) cordially invite you to participate in the second Envisioning the Future : Malaysia Beyond GE14 workshop. Let's focus on real world issues and people-centric public policies that we envision for, let's make people's voice louder and set the agenda for our future.

Date : Saturday, 4 November 2017
Time : 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Venue : Connexion @ Nexus, Bangsar South City, Jalan Kerinchi, 59200 Kuala Lumpur

Joint Statement by Civil Society and individuals on Book Banning, Thought Control and Academic Meddling

We, the undersigned civil society organisations and individuals, register our gravest concern and strongest objection to a series of crackdowns on intellectuals from September 25 to October 3.

These include the arrest of Turkish writer Mustafa Akyol, the harassment and persecution of Akyol’s host, Dr Farouk Musa of Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF) and the banning of 22 books, including discursive writings by Akyol, Farouk Musa, scholar Faisal Tehrani (Dr. Mohd Faizal Musa) and cleric Ustaz Wan Ji Wan Hussin.

“Religious teaching without tauliah [proper accreditation]” (Section 11 of Act 559 in this case) is a Syariah offense normally reserved for errant preachers in mosques and surau.

[Gallery] Envisioning the Future : Malaysia Beyond GE14

About 80 people participated at the Envisioning the Future : Malaysia Beyond GE14 workshop organised by Monitoring Sustainability of Globalisation.

People’s voice as the central force must be developed in the midst of partisan politics in Malaysia to craft the future beyond the 14th general election. A people’s narrative should emerge to make sure both sides of political divide hear what people want, the director of Monitoring Sustainability of Globalisation cum Member of Parliament for Klang Charles Santiago said.

GLCs investing in bloodsucking industries, says Chin Tong

Source : Free Malaysia Today   Sheith Khidhir Bin Abu Bakar | September 30, 2017

KUALA LUMPUR: DAP central executive council member Liew Chin Tong has accused government-linked companies (GLCs) in the country of squeezing the middle class of their income.

Speaking at a forum entitled “Envisioning The Future Beyond GE14” here today, Liew, who is also MP for Kluang, said the country’s GLCs invested in industries that pinched the pockets of Malaysians, citing the healthcare industry as an example.

“In Malaysia we have a two-tiered healthcare system where if you have money you go to private hospitals and if you don’t, then you go to government hospitals.

Ambiga: Parties in power have agenda to keep people poor

Source : Free Malaysia Today    Sheith Khidhir Bin Abu Bakar | September 30, 2017

KUALA LUMPUR: Lawyer and human rights activist Ambiga Sreenevasan has accused certain quarters holding the reins of power in Malaysia, of deliberately keeping people in poverty to make them believe they are dependent on those ruling over them.

“When you are poor you are very susceptible to fear, and those in power can easily keep their grasp on power by telling you that you are dependent on them by giving you the occasional handout,” she said.

Empower people through legal reform, says human rights lawyer

Source : The Malaysian Insight   Chan Kok Leong   Published on 30 Sep 2017

REGARDLESS of what happens in the next general election, Malaysians need to build a better Malaysia by empowering people through laws.

“There are laws that govern the freedom of people but they do nothing to empower Malaysians.

“As such we need to review all the laws that restrict the freedom of speech, expression and association,” said human rights lawyer Syahredzan Johan in Kuala Lumpur today.

Envisioning the Future : Malaysia Beyond GE14

Malaysians are confronted with three issues that impacts on the quality of life and standard of living of the various key sectors of the population: youths stuck with spiraling debt, workers facing stagnant wages, and patients confronted with a rising cost of healthcare.

At the heart of these problems is the widening inequality in the country, one that is skewed in favour of the rich.

At present, at least 11 youths go bankrupt daily because they are unable to pay their education and housing loans. 57% of parents go into debt to pay for their children’s education loans. The loans are subsequently transferred to their children who are burdened with debt even before they secure employment.

Parliamentarians come together to promote human rights in the context of trade

25 August 2017,      Source : ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights

JAKARTA – Governments in the process of negotiating the proposed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) must ensure that the trade deal’s provisions protect human rights. That was the message from parliamentarians and other stakeholders who convened in Jakarta this week to discuss the RCEP and its implications for the region’s citizens during a two-day dialogue organized by ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR), Indonesia for Global Justice (IGJ), and the Extraterritorial Obligation (ETO) Consortium.

The meeting brought together members of parliament from countries involved in the RCEP, international experts, civil society representatives, and government officials to discuss the ongoing negotiations and the trade deal’s likely impact on human rights. At the conclusion of the dialogue, parliamentarians called for more attention to the deal’s human rights implications.

Time to review the management of migrant workers

26th July, 2017     Source : Berita Daily

This repeats like a mantra in Malaysia. When journalists follow leads to break stories that take a whack at the government, cabinet members jump on a bandwagon to cry foul.

Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is no different.

He told parliament that the Al-Jazeera report, which exposes entrenched graft in the movement of workers between Malaysia and migrant source countries especially Bangladesh, is misleading.

Halt the mission - nuclear energy is not an option

by Malaysian Coalition Against Nuclear (MyCAN)     Published 21 Apr 2017   Source : Malaysiakini

The Malaysian Coalition Against Nuclear (MyCAN) is appalled that the Malaysian government is determined to go down the nuclear energy route with the completion of the Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) mission for Phase 1 of ‘readiness’ that was conducted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) last October.

When receiving the final mission report from the IAEA on March 8, at the sideline of the 8th Annual Nuclear Power Asia Conference, held in Kuala Lumpur, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nancy Shukri proclaimed that Malaysia is “thoroughly prepared” to decide on adoption of nuclear power generation.

Minister Nancy has said that the report would be presented to the cabinet soonest for a decision to be made as Malaysia has 30 days to respond to the recommendations.
In light of this latest development, MyCAN urges the government, in the interests of transparency, to do the following:

Make nuclear power plant report public, says Charles

9th March, 2017    Source : Berita Daily

KUALA LUMPUR: Klang lawmaker Charles Santiago today questioned the speed in which the government had become knowledgeable on nuclear power plants within a period of four months.

“We were told that the stakeholders would be consulted in the last sitting and no decision was made,” he said at a press conference in the media room.

“On Monday, Minister in Prime Minister’s Department Nancy Shukri said that Malaysia is ready for the Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) Phase 1.