ULTIMATELY IT'S NAJIB WHO GIVES FINAL OK: 'Mandate, trust of TPPA given to Mustapa'

PETALING JAYA - Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak has given the mandate and trust to International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed to negotiate the terms of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA).

In announcing the move through his Facebook, Najib said it is the government's responsibility to ensure the importance of the country's economy for the long-terms and at the same time to not compromise domestic importance.

Meanwhile, Mustapa announced 12 countries have reached an agreement in TPPA negotiationsin Georgia, USA.

The 12 are Malaysia, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the US and Vietnam.

He said that in a month's time the TPPA's contents with the Cost Benefit Analysis will be prepared and announced to the public.

"Both of the documents will be presented in Parliament in two months' time which will be debated to agree or not with the TPPA. Even if Parliament agrees to it, Malaysia has two years to ratify it and be able to reject or agree within the period," he said. - Sundaily