BNBBC to form caucus over TPP issue

The Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club (BNBBC) said today that they will form a caucus to discuss on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) issue which is currently in its negotiation process.

Speaking to a press conference at the Parliamentary lobby here today, BNBBC chairman Tan Sri Shahrir Samad said the caucus will include of Parliamentary members from both Barisan Nasional (BN) and opposition.

"It will consist of seven Members of Parliament and will be chaired by a BN representative, which is Jasin MP (Datuk Wira Ahmad Hamzah)," said the Johor Baharu (BN) MP.

However, Shahrir did not reveal who will represent the opposition or the other BN representatives.

"They've agreed to form it..we dont know (who will represent the opposition) but i suppose they will sort themselves out," he added.

The TPP is a regional free-trade agreement between countries in America, Asia and Oceania under the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.

On June 27, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said the agreement, will not rob the country's sovereignty as it does not restrict the government to regulate or take the necessary steps to protect the nation's rights and sovereignty.

He said there was no provision in the TPP particularly in investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) that could threaten the sovereignty of the country.