'Govt not under pressure to sign TPPA'

The government is not being pressured by any party to sign the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) as claimed by certain quarters, the Dewan Negara was told today.

Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Hamim Samuri said the government would ensure that the nation's and the people's interests were not compromised in the ongoing negotiations of the trade pact.

"The government will not sign any agreement if it does not benefit the nation.

"The TPPA is still being negotiated. Malaysia's negotiators have been mandated to continue the negotiations, taking into account the nation's interests, government policies and Malaysia's constitution.

"The decision to ink the TPPA hinges on the overall analysis on whether the agreement will yield benefits or will be detrimental to the country," he said when replying to Senator Dr Syed Husin Ali during question-and-answer session.