Malaysia finally signs ambitious Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement

February 4, 2016     Source : The Malay Mail Online

AUCKLAND, Feb 4 — Twelve countries including Malaysia have finally signed the ambitious Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement here today which is set to expand markets, reduce tariffs and promote freer trade.

International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed signed the comprehensive 21^st century pact for Malaysia that represents nearly 40 per cent of global gross domestic product worth US$30 trillion (RM124.678 trillion).

The signing of the TPPA in New Zealand’s capital city is the culmination of five years and 19 rounds of tough negotiations.

TPPA: Kajian kos faedah ISIS tidak lengkap

by Khairil Ashraf   December 16, 2015   Sumber : Free Malaysia Today

PETALING JAYA : Ahli Parlimen Klang Charles Santiago mendakwa kajian kos faedah oleh Institut Kajian Strategik dan Antarabangsa (ISIS) berhubung Perjanjian Perkongsian Trans Pasifik (TPPA) adalah tidak lengkap.

Menurutnya, kajian itu tidak membincangkan tentang monopoli ubat dan kenaikan harga ubat-ubatan sekiranya Malaysia menandatangi TPPA.

“Dalam perhitungan mereka, perjanjian yang akan ditandatangi oleh Malaysia hanya berkait dengan hak milik intelektual tidak akan membawa kenaikan pada harga ubat-ubatan.

MP: Govt's analysis of TPPA is shallow

Koh Jun Lin     Published 16 Dec 2015    Source : Malaysiakini

Klang MP Charles Santiago has slammed a government-commissioned study on the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) as “shallow”.

The national interest analysis prepared by the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (Isis), Charles said, missed out on a number of key issues that could impact the prices of medicines.

The TPPA, he said, stipulates two different circumstances when the patent term for medicines can be extended but the analysis completely ignored the one stipulated under Article 18.37.2 of the agreement.

TPPA legitimises 'spying' of Internet users, claims researcher

by  Koh Jun Lin     Published 15 Dec 2015     Source : Malaysiakini

The Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) contains provisions that would legitimise 'spying' by Internet service providers (ISPs) on their customers, warned a researcher today.

Jay Jay Denis said the provisions are meant to deter copyright infringements on the Internet, but end up giving too much power to ISPs.

Among others, ISPs would be given 'legal incentives' to cooperate with copyright owners to deter copyright infringement.

MP disputes indie analysis of TPP, insists prices of drugs will rise

December 15, 2015    Source : The Malay Mail Online

PETALING JAYA, Dec 15 — Two independent cost-benefit analyses of Malaysia’s participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) failed to disprove fears that generic medicines will become more expensive if the country joins the deal, a DAP lawmaker asserted today.  

DAP MP Charles Santiago insisted that the studies by the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) and PricewaterhouseCooper (PwC) only said that Malaysia will be allowed "timely access" to the medicines and neglected to mention their affordability.

"This simply means that medicines both, generic and biologic, will be made available, but whether or not the prices will go up, it did not say. However, price of drugs is surely to go up because of exclusivity rights given to pharmaceutical companies," the Klang MP told a news conference.

Small businesses will be like Malaysia vs Man United under TPP, says DAP MP

December 4, 2015    Source : The Malay Mail Online

PETALING JAYA, Dec 4 ― Using football as analogy, DAP’s Charles Santiago voiced today concern for the survival of local small and medium entrepreneurs should Malaysia join the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) spearheaded by the US.

The Klang MP who is opposed to the trade deal said that Malaysia’s small-medium enterprises (SME) would be pitted against multinational corporations (MNCs) and could be wiped out if there was no contingency plan.

“Once TPP takes effect in two years,  we will see MNCs competing against SMEs. How are our SMEs, with no budget for research and development and access to technology compete with MNCs?” he asked in a news conference here.

Will Putrajaya use NSC Bill, anti-terror laws against workers on strike? DAP rep asks

December 4, 2015   Source : The Malay Mail Online

PETALING JAYA, Dec 4 ― DAP MP Charles Santiago questioned today if the federal government would use anti-terrorism laws and the proposed National Security Council (NSC) law to counter the expected increase of strikes by trade unions if Malaysia enters the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

Santiago claimed that the view in Malaysia of trade unions as the “number one enemy” is reflected in a cost-benefit analysis of the TPP by the Institute of Strategic and InternationaI Studies (ISIS), which he said had shockingly categorised obligations that Malaysia must fulfil to lift labour standards as “public order and stability” matters.

Santiago highlighted the ISIS analysis report stating that the government is “aware of the potentially disruptive threats of labour actions and is studying measures to mitigate them”, and then questioned planned action on workers.