TPPA can prevent issues like bauxite pollution - Senator
Rahimah Abdullah
January 28, 2016 12:42 MYT
January 28, 2016 12:42 MYT
He said TPPA stresses on environmental issues and that is another reason why Malaysia should sign the pact.
Malaysia’s participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) will ensure issues like bauxite pollution in Pahang does not occur, said Senator Datuk Adam Abdul Hamid.
He said TPPA stresses on environmental issues and that is another reason why Malaysia should sign the pact.
“If we sign the TPPA, incidents like bauxite mining would no longer happen,” he said while debating TPPA at Dewan Negara today.
“Before this, we had problems of illegal logging in Lojing and Cameron Highlands. Now another matter at Bukit Gambir,” he added.
He said the TPPA touches on many environmental issues like illegal logging, smuggling of wildlife, forestry and over-fishing.
On Wednesday, the Dewan Rakyat approved a motion allowing Malaysia's participation in the TPPA, moving the country a step forward towards signing and ratifying the trade accord bringing together 12 nations.
The motion was carried with 127 votes for and 84 against.
Twenty-four MPs spoke during the debate on the motion tabled by Mustapa yesterday at the two-day special sitting of the house.
The Dewan Rakyat approval backs the decision of the government for Malaysia to be a part of the TPPA member countries after the talks were concluded on Oct 5, 2015 in Atlanta, United States, following more than five years of negotiations.