MITI to circulate summarised version of TPPA text in Bahasa Malaysia tomorrow

The International Trade and Industry Ministry (MITI) will circulate a summarised version of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) in Bahasa Malaysia, beginning tomorrow, in order to provide a balanced explanation to the public.

"Our hope is that when we go to Parliament (to debate the TPPA), Malaysians will have a clearer picture and balanced information. We feel that the information the public had earlier was one-sided," MITI Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed told reporters after launching a small booklet titled, "TPPA: Answers To Anxiety, Misunderstanding and Accusations".

Mustapa said the 81-page Bahasa Malaysia booklet, is divided into four parts of why Malaysia joined the TPPA, its benefits, the study and the country's concerns over the agreement.

"Our hope is that with the summarised version and booklet, people will be able to understand the TPPA more thoroughly," he said, adding that the booklet was launched in conjunction with the one-day briefing and TPPA workshop for Barisan Nasional parliamentarians today.

He said a similar briefing and workshop would be held in Parliament tomorrow for Opposition Members of Parliament.

Mustapa said many opposition leaders now understood the benefits of the TPPA to Malaysia.

"From the sessions with the opposition leaders, I can see that they have a better understanding of the TPPA requirement. However, the decision to vote is up to them.

"Whether they are voting for the TPPA or against it, I cannot predict the outcome now," he said.

Presently, MITI is conducting the second round of briefing sessions on the TPPA in Perak, Terengganu, Johore and Penang with 5,000 people from various target groups participating in them.