M'sia pressured to ease up on GM food regulations

by  Fauwaz Abdul Aziz     Published 27 Feb 2007    Source : Malaysiakini

The government has been urged not to bend to US pressure to scrap its proposed laws that would bring in mandatory labeling of genetically-modified (GM) foods.

Groups lobbying against the US-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) said this amounts to meddling and provides yet another reason for the government not to proceed with the negotiations.

The labeling proposal is one of the provisions of the Biosafety Bill that has already been approved by the cabinet but has yet to be tabled in Parliament. The bill governs the production and sale of GM organisms and their by-products.

Gov't in 'unholy haste' over FTA

by Fauwaz Abdul Aziz     Published 26 Feb 2007    Source : Malaysiakini

Political and civil society groups today decried the government's 'unholy haste' to sign the US-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and demanded that more time be allotted to deliberate the issues at stake.

They said International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz's rush to forge a Cabinet consensus for the FTA belied not only claims that Malaysia was not beholden to US pressures, but also assurances that a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis has already been conducted.

Two weeks ago, it was reported that Rafidah briefed ministers on 58 contentious issues holding up the FTA. They are expected to submit their views this Wednesday, following which a decision would be made on whether the FTA would be feasible or not.

FTA not quick-fix solution for NEP woes

by Fauwaz Abdul Aziz     Published 8 Jan 2007         Source : Malaysiakini

exclusive The US-Malaysia free trade agreement (FTA) will alter the economic and political fundamentals in Malaysia beyond the hopes of those seeking the dismantling of such pro-Malay policies as the National Economic Policy (NEP), warns an economist.

Director of Monitoring Sustainability of Globalisation Charles Santiago said Malaysians should discard the tempting illusion that the FTA will be a saviour of the non-Malay community, as the impact will be felt by all.

The government enters the fourth round of negotiations with the US Trade Representative today. Critics believe that the FTA will result in an increase in drug prices, job losses and the sidelining of local industries, among other problems .

Stop FTA talks and talk to the people first

by  Fauwaz Abdul Aziz     Published 19 Oct 2006      Source : Malaysiakini

Before and after every round of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, the US trade representative provides briefings and reports to business and industry groups in that country.

But why is the Malaysian government not disclosing any information on the talks to its own people?

Posing this question today, a coalition of opposition political parties, non-governmental organisations and civil society have demanded that the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (Miti) stops the FTA talks with the US until a thorough study is done on all the issues concerned and disclosed to the public.