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TWN Info Service
on Free Trade Agreements
15 January 2009
Latest Update on Malaysia-US FTA
International
Trade and Industry Minister Muhyiddin Yassin reportedly said that Malaysia will
temporarily stop negotiations on a free trade agreement with the US, presumably
as a protest against US’ support for Israel’s invasion
of Gaza.
(Item 1)
However, the minister
has yet to inform Cabinet officially and has been asked by the Prime
Minister to brief the Cabinet on his decision. (Item 2)
Malaysia and the
US
have conducted a number of rounds of talks since 2006 but have not been
able to reach a conclusion due to protracted differences over a number
of sensitive issues. The talks have been put on hold ahead of the change
in the US
administration.
Meanwhile,
various quarters such as the Consumers Association of Penang have called
on the government to halt the negotiations while the Bar Council has
asked for its review in light of the Israel-Palestine conflict. (Item
3)
Best wishes,
Third World Network
2-1, Jalan 31/70A
Desa Sri Hartamas
50480 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: +603-2300 2585
Fax: +603-2300 2595
email: twnkl@po.jaring.my
websites: www.twnside.org.sg, www.ftamalaysia.org
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Item 1
13/01/2009, Utusan
Malaysia
http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2009&dt=0113&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Muka_Hadapan&pg=mh_03.htm
Rundingan FTA dengan
AS ditangguh
KUALA
LUMPUR 12 Jan. – Kementerian
Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri (MITI) akan menghentikan sementara
rundingan perjanjian perdagangan bebas (FTA) dengan Amerika Syarikat
(AS) sehingga mendapat arahan lanjut daripada Kabinet.
Menterinya, Tan
Sri Muhyiddin Yassin berkata, kerajaan tidak perlu tergesa-gesa untuk
memuktamadkan proses FTA dengan AS, terutama dalam situasi semasa apabila
negara tersebut memberi sokongan penuh terhadap kezaliman Israel
ke atas rakyat Palestin.
Menurut beliau,
proses rundingan FTA dengan AS sebelum ini juga sebenarnya masih belum
mencapai sebarang persetujuan bersama dalam banyak isu yang dibangkitkan.
“Kerajaan tidak
akan tergesa-gesa, tambahan pula banyak pihak berpendapat tidak perlu
diteruskan FTA itu.
‘‘Jadi lebih baik
kita hentikan proses rundingan itu dan tengok perkembangan selanjutnya
setelah mendapat panduan daripada Kabinet,” katanya kepada pemberita
selepas majlis Perhimpunan Warga MITI Bersama Menteri di sini hari ini.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Item 2
January 14, 2009
00:04 AM
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=383507
Explain Statement On M'sia-US FTA Talks
BENTONG, Jan 13
(Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi wants International Trade
and Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to brief the Cabinet
on his statement that his ministry has temporarily stopped Free Trade
Agreement (FTA) negotiations with the United States.
The Prime Minister said Muhyiddin must formally inform the Cabinet on
his ministry's decision and the implications.
"Tan Sri Muhyiddin must brief the Cabinet and what are the implications,"
he told reporters after attending the East Coast Economic Region Development
Council meeting here on Tuesday.
Asked whether Muhyiddin made the statement in the wake of the latest
developments in the Israel-Palestine conflict in the Middle East where
the United States is seen to be supporting Israeli brutalities on the
Palestinians in the Gaza strip, Abdullah said: "Definitely, what
was announced by Tan Sri Muhyiddin must be linked to what was debated
in Parliament (about the Palestine issue).
"Whatever it is, he (Muhyiddin) must inform the Cabinet officially.
There are matters that need to be explained," he said.
Muhyiddin said on Monday his ministry would temporarily stop FTA talks
with the United States
until it received further instructions from the Cabinet.
Muhyiddin had said the government would not be hasty to conclude the
negotiations especially at a time when the US
was giving full support to the Israeli atrocities on the Palestinians.
The minister said the several rounds of FTA talks held with the US
so far had not reached an agreement on many issues.
-- BERNAMA
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Consumers’ Association
of Penang is outraged by the Israeli aggression and invasion of Gaza,
which continues today despite a UN Security Council resolution last
week calling for an immediate ceasefire.
While we are encouraged
by government efforts in pushing for a special session of the UN General
Assembly on the Gaza crisis, we believe
that much more can be done to express our outrage and condemnation of
the Israeli transgressions which amount to war crimes.
Israel’s
actions of impunity proceed with the complicity and support of the United States,
as was demonstrated by the US
abstention of the recent Security Council resolution.
What is also outrageous
and which defies any sense of compassion and humanity is the US Congress’
overwhelming vote in support of Israel’s attacks
on Gaza
despite the prevailing humanitarian tragedy.
Clearly, our Government
should not under such circumstances continue with the negotiations for
a US-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement (MUFTA). In this regard, we wholeheartedly
support the call by the Malaysian Bar Council in urging for a cessation
of negotiations.
Besides, we stressed
in the past that Malaysia
stands to lose more than gain from such an FTA.
It would have serious
consequences for the country on many issues, including the following:
> Government
procurements and the implications for ethnic relations in the country;
> Investment
and the implications for local jobs, small industries and enterprises;
> Intellectual
property rights and access to affordable medicines and knowledge;
> Agriculture
and food security in relation to impact on local farmers and rice self-sufficiency;
> Food safety
related to labelling of GM foods, etc.
When Malaysia
is showing true leadership among the developing world in spearheading
efforts at the UN on the Gaza
tragedy, we should also lead in expressing our outrage by ending all
negotiations over the MUFTA with immediate effect.
S M MOHAMED IDRIS,
President, CAP.
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