KUALA LUMPUR, August 14 — In an unprecedented move, right-wing groups have joined hands with left-leaning counterparts in a bid to exert pressure on Putrajaya to suspend Malaysia’s involvement in Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) talks.

The formation of the coalition, called Badan Bertindak Bantah TPPA or Bantah TPPA (Oppose TPPA) in short, will add to the growing resistance against the 12-nation free trade talks led by the US.

The group also believes its large membership carries enough threat of a potential political backlash to finally press the Najib administration to heed the myriad concerns raised in relation to the TPPA.

“We have been growing for the past two months and we will continue to grow,” Malay Economic Action Council (MTEM) chief Mohd Nizam Mashar said a press conference here.

The group of over 50 organisations that also include Suaram, Majlis Perundingan Islam Malaysia, Malaysian Aids Council, Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) and National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE) allege that the TPPA is aimed at expanding the business ambitions of US multinationals by killing off local businesses through the removal of trade protections.

Last week, Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim went as far as to accuse the TPPA of being a tool to promote US hegemony since most of the clauses in the arrangement are aimed at limiting government roles while strengthening corporate dominance in trade policies.

One oft-cited fear was that the TPPA would inflate medicine prices as a result of stronger patent laws.

According to the group, the US had proposed a clause that would make it easier for big pharmaceutical corporations to patent medicine and obtain longer copyrights, which would render it more difficult for ordinary Malaysians to access affordable generic medicines.

Other concerns are the infringement of local labour rights and even domestic policies since the investor-state dispute settlement (ISD), the trade arbitration process under the agreement, would allegedly benefit companies more.

Bantah said a letter of protest has been submitted to the Cabinet, which is scheduled to hear a briefing on the TPPA by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) tomorrow.

“We have no more time, we are at the tail-end of the talks and we have been kept in the dark for the past two years and we need these concerns to be highlighted,” Nizam said.

Echoing calls made by Anwar and other opposition leaders, the group urged Putrajaya to suspend the talks until an impartial and comprehensive cost-benefit analysis and comparative advantage study are carried out and made public.

The group also agreed with opposition demands for the issue to be scrutinised in a Parliamentary Select Committee instead of the present multi-partisan caucus.

“The caucus doesn’t have any power unlike a select committee,” said Nizam.

Putrajaya has so far remain unmoved by the growing opposition to the TPPA, with International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed (picture) insisting that the government would ensure it would only partake in the deal if it benefits Malaysia.

“The government will assure the Malaysian public that advancing national interest and safeguarding national sovereignty are our top priorities,” he said.

Mustapa said the Malaysian TPPA negotiation team included senior government officials from various ministries and government agencies who are experts in their respective fields.

He also said the ministry has taken note of public concerns on transparency and secrecy of the negotiations

But Bantah TPPA said Putrajaya has not been forthright with its engagement and that a proper dialogue between stakeholders and the government has been minimal.

The next round of TPPA talks is scheduled to take place in Brunei in October.