Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia have actually expressed interest to be part of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA), said the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI).
MITI said this in its written response to issues raised by Dr Jomo Kwame Sundaram recently that countries such as Thailand and the Philippines had opted to distance themselves from this treaty.
Contrary to the claims made by Jomo, both Thailand and Philippines have actually expressed their interest to be part of the TPPA, said MITI.
On Nov 27, 2015, Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak was quoted by Reuters as saying, "Thailand is highly interested in joining TPP.
Chances are high that Thailand will seek to join TPP". On Oct 14, 2015, Philippine President Benigno Aquino was quoted by Reuters as saying, "We really want to participate in it. Joining TPP does make very good
sense to us, especially because of those who are already in it, whom we find ourselves in very close alliances with, on so many different fronts".
MITI added that on Oct 26, 2015, another ASEAN member, Indonesia, had also expressed interest to participate in the TPP.
President Joko Widodo was quoted by Reuters as saying, "We are the largest economy in Southeast Asia. And Indonesia intends to join the TPP."
On issues that the TPPA would undermine multilateral and bilateral trade agreements, MITI said as a trading nation with a small domestic market, it was imperative for Malaysia to be open and continue to trade with more nations.
"We have to diversify our trade and establish good relations with all countries.
"Malaysia will continue to be part of trade agreements which we think is in line with the interest of our nation.
On Jomo's remarks that Malaysia is merely an amateur but is going to an unknown territory where others are very experience, MITI said Malaysia had negotiated 13 bilateral and regional free trade agreements with both developed and developing countries.
"It is unfair therefore to say that Malaysia lacks the experience to be involved in a trade deal with other countries.
Throughout the TPPA negotiations, Malaysia stood firm that it will not compromise on its core policies such as the Bumiputera agenda.
"We managed to explain the necessity of the affirmative action policy to other TPPA countries and defended our interest till the very end.
"This goes to show that we have the ability to negotiate on our terms and make our voices heard by other developed nations, thus dispelling the claim that Malaysia is merely an amateur," said MITI.
On the investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS), MITI said the provision cut both ways.
"While it protects foreign investments in our country, it also provides protection for Malaysian companies which are operating overseas.
"ISDS is more important than ever now for our companies given that as of the third quarter 2015, our direct investment abroad stood at RM601.6 billion, which exceeded our foreign direct investment of RM500.2 billion," according to the statement.
Bernama
Thu Jan 14 2016
Throughout the TPPA negotiations, Malaysia stood firm that it will not compromise on its core policies such as the Bumiputera agenda. - File photo
Niaga AWANI: Airasia Group bakal disenaraikan di Bursa Malaysia pada September - Tony Fernandes
AirAsia Group Sdn Bhd (AAG) bakal disenaraikan di Bursa Malaysia pada September, mengambil alih status penyenaraian AirAsia X Bhd, kata Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Capital A Bhd Tan Sri Tony Fernandes.fernandes, bursa Malaysia.
#NiagaAWANI
#NiagaAWANI
Niaga AWANI: Bekas CEO 7-Eleven, Hishammudin Hasan dilantik terajui Al-Ikhsan
Al-Ikhsan Sports Sdn Bhd, firma swasta dengan 35% pegangan milik
Ekuiti Nasional Bhd (Ekuinas) telah melantik Datuk Hishammudin Hasan sebagai ketua pegawai eksekutif (CEO) baharunya berkuat kuasa 17 April 2024.
#NiagaAWANI
Ekuiti Nasional Bhd (Ekuinas) telah melantik Datuk Hishammudin Hasan sebagai ketua pegawai eksekutif (CEO) baharunya berkuat kuasa 17 April 2024.
#NiagaAWANI
Niaga AWANI: MOT, KHAZANAH, MAG perlu perkukuh tadbir urus MAB
Jelas Perdana Menteri, pengurusan syarikat penerbangan yang baik juga akan memberi manfaat kepada kakitangan melalui gaji yang setimpal dengan perkhidmatan mereka.
#NiagaAWANI
#NiagaAWANI
Niaga AWANI: Vincent Tan tak terbabit rundingan lesen kasino Forest City
Berjaya Corp Bhd (BCorp) menafikan laporan yang mengaitkan Pengasasnya, Tan Sri Vincent Tan terbabit dalam rundingan berkaitan lesen kasino di Forest City, Johor.
#NiagaAWANI
#NiagaAWANI
Niaga AWANI: Kadar antara bank jangka pendek ditutup kukuh susulan operasi BNM
Kadar antara bank jangka pendek ditutup kukuh pada Jumaat susulan operasi Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) menyerap lebihan mudah tunai daripada sistem kewangan.
#NiagaAWANI
#NiagaAWANI
Niaga AWANI: IHPR meningkat 1.6 peratus pada Mac 2024
Indeks Harga Pengeluar Malaysia yang mengukur perubahan harga barangan di peringkat pengeluar, meningkat 1.6 peratus pada Mac 2024 berbanding 0.3 peratus pada Februari 2024, menurut Jabatan Perangkaan Malaysia (DOSM).
#NiagaAWANI
#NiagaAWANI
Tiada kasino akan beroperasi di Johor - Onn Hafiz
Onn Hafiz berkata khabar angin yang tular itu berunsur sabotaj dan berniat jahat untuk mencemar imej Forest City dan Johor secara keseluruhannya.
Niaga AWANI: Nestle Malaysia naikkan harga 22 produknya mulai 1 Julai 2024 hingga 6 peratus
Nestle (Malaysia) Bhd dijadual menaikkan harga bagi 22 produknya mulai 1 Julai, menurut Gabungan Persatuan Peniaga Barangan Pelbagai Malaysia.
#NiagaAWANI
#NiagaAWANI
Niaga AWANI: MyIPO mempelopori projek Agriculture 4.0
Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Kos Sara Hidup (KPDN) melalui Perbadanan Harta Intelek Malaysia (MyIPO) mengumumkan bahawa MyIPO telah dipilih oleh World Intellectural Property Organisation (WIPO) sebagai salah satu negara di Asian Tenggara (ASEAN) untuk mempelopori projek Agriculture 4.0.
#NiagaAWANI
#NiagaAWANI
Niaga AWANI: Lancar stesen pengisian semula eco, yang pertama seumpamanya
Jenama pembersihan rumah mesra alam dari Lam Soon, Bio-Home, melancarkan stesen pengisian semula eco pertama, menandakan langkah penting komitmen dalam menangani isu sisa plastik.
#NiagaAWANI
#NiagaAWANI
Bekas Presiden Filipina Benigno Aquino dilapor meninggal dunia
Aquino, 61, merupakan Presiden Filipina dari tahun 2010 hingga 2016.
Rodrigo Duterte menang Pilihan Raya Presiden Filipina
Walaupun keputusan rasmi belum diumumkan, dua pesaingnya mengaku kalah, membuka peluang kepada Datuk Bandar Davao itu menggantikan Benigno Aquino III bagi memimpin Filipina untuk penggal seterusnya.
Rodrigo Duterte diramal menang besar pemilihan presiden Filipina
Duterte yang berkobar-kobar mahu membanteras jenayah namun sering mencetus isu kontroversi dan moral dilihat semakin diterima pengundi negara tersebut.
Taufan Haiyan: Angka kematian meningkat kepada 2344
Majlis Pengurusan Pengurangan Risiko Bencana turut melaporkan 3,804 orang lagi mengalami kecederaan dan 79 lagi hilang.
Pilihan raya Filipina penting buat Aquino
Pilihan raya Filipina hari ini dilihat penting bagi Presiden Benigno Aquino bagi melaksanakan agendanya setelah keganasan dan rasuah melingkari permasalahan negara.
Manila minta nasihat ulama Islam; Kiram mohon bantuan Vatican
Manila dilaporkan mendapatkan nasihat daripada ulama Islam tertinggi untuk mengkaji tuntutan negara itu ke atas Sabah.
Aquino yakin isu Sabah boleh selesai di meja rundingan
Presiden Filipina, Benigno Aquino yakin bahawa isu tuntutan ke atas negeri Sabah hanya boleh diselesaikan kedua pihak melalui meja rundingan.
Bekas presiden gesa Aquino jumpa 'Sultan'
Bekas Presiden Filipina menggesa Presiden Benigno Aquino III untuk bertemu dengan 'Sultan' Sulu Jamalul Kiram III untuk membincangkan bagaimana untuk menamatkan pertempuran yang kini berlaku di Sabah.
Rosario mohon maaf pada keluarga Kesultanan Sulu
Setiausaha Luar Filipina, Albert Del Rosario akan menghantar permohonan maaf secara rasmi kepada keluarga waris kesultanan sulu kerana meminggirkan kumpulan itu dalam perjanjian Bangsamoro.
Manila terus usaha cari penyelesaian aman - Aquino
Pentadbiran Manila akan meneruskan usaha membantu menyelesaikan pencerobohan di Sabah melalui jalan keamanan.