KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 24 — To better safeguard Malaysia’s interests, Putrajaya should research the impact of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) on all small-scale local businesses and not just those controlled by the Bumiputera, federal opposition lawmaker Charles Santiago said today.

In a statement following the International Trade and Industry Ministry (MITI) written reply in Parliament last week, the DAP MP said casting a wider net would be a more effective gauge of Malaysia’s level of readiness to take part in the controversial trade negotiations.

“The Malaysian government has got it all wrong again. It cannot always be about short cuts. And it’s certainly not acceptable when the government does shoddy work just to push ahead with it agenda,” he said.

In its parliamentary reply, MITI had said its study was to give greater focus to gauge the readiness of Bumiputera entities specifically in analysing the impact TPPA holds to small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Santiago said that while it is important for the government to focus on Bumiputera stakeholders in the industry who make up 37.4 per cent, it should not forsake non-Bumiputera participants who make up a greater 62.6 per cent throughout the country.

“This is important given the contribution of Malaysian SMI (Small and Medium Industry) in the country’s Transformation Plan, which envisions transforming Malaysia from a middle-income to a high-income economy in the industry.

 “It makes economic sense given that these enterprises represent at least 99 per cent of total business involving 645,136 establishments in the country, and they employ 59 per cent of all workers employed in largely labour-intensive businesses and constitute about 90 percent of the total labor force in the manufacturing sector alone,” he added

Santiago said that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had also indicated last week, that the TPPA trade negotiations will be concluded early next year and Malaysia’s remaining concerns at the negotiations were the Bumiputera agenda and government owned companies.

Santiago said that what is lacking in the preparedness is a national TPPA impact assessment that could throw light on advantages and disadvantages of joining the TPPA including mitigation plans when faced with losses of market share, business, jobs and income.

“Furthermore, a study involving the overall preparedness level of our SMI (Small and Medium Industry) to compete in a challenging TPPA environment will help local SMEs to equip themselves with the necessary tools to face stiff competition from other SMIs of the eleven countries which are negotiating the TPPA,” Santiago said.

“MITI has to recognise that competition is a warfare and it does not favor one group against another. What is important is wether we, as a nation, are prepared to face a challenging and highly competitive TPPA environment,” he further added, urging the government to rethink its decision in the interest of the country.