Beware – Malaysia ‘secretly’ entering into another FTA Agreement …full transparency please.
By Charles Hector
Free Trade Agreements (FTA) – Malaysia enters into free trade agreements with this country and that country – and these agreement affects not just the UMNO-led BN government but all Malaysians.
As such, before any such FTA are signed, it is important that Malaysians are allowed to peruse this agreements, and have the opportunity to discuss and debate it. Media should carry these debates and feedbacks.
All such FTAs and other Agreements that bind Malaysia should also be first tabled in Parliament and agreed to, before Malaysia sits down and signs these agreements.
Malaysia should be fully aware of the consequence of 'free trade' especially when it is signed by 'non-equal' parties. There is a need for a certain amount of discrimination … a certain amount of of 'special privileges' and protectionism especially of the poor and marginalised. The whole special priviledges/benefits for Malays and natives of Sabah and Sarawak provision in our Federal Constitution indicates this kind of thinking. Are we ready to compete at the same level with the US…and now New Zealand. Maybe the rich and the bigger companies in Malaysia can – but the smaller people and businesses certainly will lose out – and we will be worse of.
Transparency – tell us exactly what the terms of this FTA Agreement is. Allow different viewpaoints to be shared with all Malaysians (In short, get the media to publish/air opinions in support and opinions that are against – so that the Malaysian people get to see all aspects).
Only the government's perspective is of little benefit to the people – since it may only be the reasons that support the government position – i.e. to go ahead and sign the FTA.
Only the general objects or gist of FTA Agreement is not suffuicient – as sometimes, it is that 'small terms' and words that will cause the people (and future governments, i.e. may PR Government) great pain – because it is very very difficult to 'cancel' (terminate) agreements.
