Govt will lean on Parliament's decision on TPPA

The government will lean on Parliament's decision to determine the country's participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA).

International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said the government was currently conducting a cost-benefit analysis, expected to be completed in July.

"It would be a mockery if the government does not take the views of Parliament into account," he said to a supplementary question from Wong Chen (PKR-Kelana Jaya) at the Dewan Rakyat here today.

The TPPA is a free trade agreement currently being negotiated by Australia, Brunei, Chile, Canada, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, South Korea, United States and Vietnam.

Responding to the original question from Datuk Dr Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali (PAS-Kuala Nerus) on the TPPA, Mustapa said the government's decision to raise the TPPA, a controversial issue, in parliament was unprecedented.

He said it was for members of parliament to obtain feedback on the TPPA from their constituents and convey them in parliament.

He said 12 countries had been involved in the TPPA negotiations since 2010 and among the issues being studied by the government were the question of sovereignty and government procurement with regard to Bumiputera interest.

Other aspects include small and medium industries, intellectual property, labour and environment, said Mustapa.

Meanwhile, Home Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the government forked out RM29.6 million in operations last year to deport undocumented foreigners.

However, the government managed to recover the amount through compounds and special payments.

He said 114,270 undocumented foreigners surrendered themselves and requested to be sent back to their respective countries last year.

The government imposed a RM300 compound and special payment of RM100 on each of them.

The total collection from the compound was RM33.6 million while the special payment, RM11.2 million.

"The transportation was borne by the foreigners themselves, or their families, embassy or government," he said in reply to Normala Abdul Samad (BN-Pasir Gudang).