NGOs to hold anti-TPPA protest on Friday
Chegubard announced that a forum will be held Thursday at the Sultan Sulaiman Club in Kampung Baru, titled Pentas Perdana: Selamatkan Kedaulatan Negara, Tolak TPPA (Premier Forum: Save the country’s harmony, say No to TPPA).
(The Star) – A group non-governmental organisations (NGOs) against the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) will hold a protest here Friday to pressure the Malaysian government against signing the agreement.
The demonstration, to be held at the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC), also coincides with the visit of United States Secretary of State John Kerry, who is expected to push the Malaysian government to sign the agreement.
NGOs under Bantah TPPA, Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) and Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (Jerit) will start their demonstration from As’ Syakirin Mosque, better known as KLCC Mosque, at 2pm after Friday prayers.
They will march towards KLCC, where John Kerry is expected to be.
Bantah TPPA spokesman Anas Alang told a press conference at Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall here that Bantah TPPA was the biggest anti-TPPA organisation in Malaysia and that he expected a big crowd on Friday.
Some of the NGOs involved are the Malaysian Aids Council, Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control, Positive Malaysia Treatment Access and Advocacy Group.
“In 2008, we protested against the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and we succeeded.
“This time around, we’re planning to do the same and say no to American hegemony,” said a Jerit coordinator, who identified herself only as Kohilah.
When asked about security measures, SAMM coordinator Badrul Hisham Shahrin, better known as Chegubard, said there will be marshalls overseeing the demonstration.
“This is not a political demonstration. This is a demonstration to show that the people are concerned about the repercussions of TPPA,” he said, adding that the Bantah TPPA secretrait was discussing with the police over the demonstration.
Chegubard also announced that a forum will be held Thursday at the Sultan Sulaiman Club in Kampung Baru, titled Pentas Perdana: Selamatkan Kedaulatan Negara, Tolak TPPA (Premier Forum: Save the country’s harmony, say No to TPPA).
It will be attended by Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim.
“We’ve also sent a letter to former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad and are hopeful he will be able to attend for the forum and give his thoughts on TPPA,” said Chegubard.
The TPPA is an initiative to establish a free-trade agreement among the 12 countries of the Asia-Pacific region and is open to other Apec economies.
The 12 TPP members are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam.
The opposition is trying to draw the support of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad by inserting his name and picture in the above poster.
