KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 25 — Those who vote against the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement after it is debated in the Dewan Rakyat tomorrow and on Wednesday will likely be doing so for political reasons, Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club (BNBBC) chief Tan Sri Shahrir Samad said today.
Speaking at a press conference after BNBBC’s briefing on the TPP by the International Trade and Industry Ministry here, Shahrir said that he expects the opposition to vote against the trade agreement even if some of the MPs actually believe it has its benefits.
“Those who disagree with the agreement will be spurred by political motivations,” Shahrir said.
“Unfortunately this is Malaysia. That’s how things are here. Political considerations are above national interests,” he added.
Shahrir said that for some lawmakers, whatever actions taken by the administration will “not be right”.
“That's the disadvantage we have here in Malaysia,” he said.
Meanwhile, Shahrir also said that the BN lawmakers will form their own sub-committees to oversee the implementation of TPP once it is passed by Parliament.
“We do not consider our job done just because it is passed. The ratification will take two years,’ he said.
“For that two years, we will give suggestions as to how the enforcement and implementation can be done because obviously we need to make adjustments to existing laws to accommodate TPPA,” he said.
Critics have argued that the 12-member nation agreement will increase the prices of medicines and affect local businesses.
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said last week that all Pakatan Harapan lawmakers will vote against the TPP.
Besides Pakatan Harapan comprising the DAP, PKR and Amanah, PAS and Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) are also said to be opposed to the US-driven TPP that some have claimed would drive the prices of medicines up and leave Malaysia vulnerable to foreign powers, among other concerns.
