July 23, 2013
MY COMMENT: Why the rush to get this TPPA signed and
sealed in time for the forthcoming visit of President Barack Obama to Malaysia en route to Brunei.There are a number of provisions in the TPPA that are detrimental to Malaysia’s interest.
MP Shahrir Samad, the evergreen politician from Johor Baru, had suggested that we should have a bi-partisan group reflecting diverse interests in Malaysia to look at the TPPA thoroughly. His advice should be followed. We must prepare for the future but we must never compromise on our future. The MITI Minister must convene such a group. Our negotiation team is strengthened if it comes to the table with the people’s support. Strange as it may seem, nobody in officialdom has explained the secrecy surrounding TPPA. –Din Merican
TPPA: Malaysia is NOT For SALE
by Dato’ Dr. R.S.McCoy@http://www.malaysiakini.com
In reality, the Trans-Pacific Partnership is not an equal partnership that stands for mutual gain. Essentially, it is a one-sided, legally-binding agreement which protects and enhances the economic interests of investing foreign transnational corporations, particularly from powerful countries such as the United States, and enables them to undermine a weaker country’s sovereignty and democratic foundations in the pursuit of their profits.–Dato Dr. R.S McCoy
COMMENT: It is critically important for the people and government of
Malaysia to think very carefully about the opaque, American-led Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) and to recognise it for what it is.
Ostensibly, it is a multilateral trade liberalisation agreement among 11 countries – Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States of America and Vietnam.
In reality, the Trans-Pacific Partnership is not an equal partnership that stands for mutual gain. Essentially, it is a one-sided, legally-binding agreement which protects and enhances the economic interests of investing foreign transnational corporations, particularly from powerful countries such as the United States, and enables them to undermine a weaker country’s sovereignty and democratic foundations in the pursuit of their profits.
The Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) is made up of 29 chapters, but only five are about trade. The other 24 chapters deal with sensitive issues, such as patents, copyright, intellectual property, transparency, labour, development, government procurement and the environment, among others.
Exclusive negotiations have been going on in secret since 2008. And yet, 600 US business corporations have direct access to the deliberations. The only way in which information seeps out is through leaks.
In the event of a dispute, the TPPA empowers the investor to sue a host government in an international court, under an Investor-State Dispute System (ISDS). For Malaysia, it will represent a return to the yoke of neo-colonialism, 56 years after Merdeka.
In the distant past, disputes over foreign investments were resolved either through the host country’s domestic judicial system or through government-to-government negotiating processes.
Today, in the TPPA, foreign investor protection, through enforcement of an ISDS, threatens to undermine independent national justice systems and fundamentally shift the balance of power in a manner that detracts from the fair resolution of legal disputes.
ISDS tribunals essentially fail to meet the fundamental principles of due process, consistency and transparency, common to the Malaysian legal system.
‘Greater rights for foreign investors’
In the TPPA, the substantive rights of the foreign investor have been expanded significantly through creative, elastic interpretations of the new language of current investment treaties, which are skewed heavily in favour of the economic interests of transnational corporations at the expense of the public interest, national autonomy and state sovereignty of the host country.
More than that, this system of the free market often grants foreign investors greater rights and privileges than those enjoyed by local investors under the laws and constitution of the host country.
There are numerous examples of how sovereign states have suffered from the legal entanglements of such trade agreements.
In the recent case of Chevron vs the government of Ecuador, an order by an arbitral tribunal forced the executive branch of the Ecuador government to violate its constitutional separation of powers and halt the enforcement of a ruling by an appellate court.
In June 2012, in the case of the Railroad Development Corporation (RDC) vs the Republic of Guatemala, under the Central Free Trade Agreement (Cafta), the tribunal ruled that the US$11.3 million award in favour of the RDC was further enhanced by a court order to pay compound interest, dating back to the time when RDC first challenged government action.
Investor-state tribunals have constructed wide interpretations of the minimum standard of treatment language and the related fair and equitable treatment standard, proposed for the TPPA, which will hold governments liable for an array of actions that meet the customary international law standard of denial of justice.
Tribunals have generated theories of investor expectations that have led to awards being granted simply because governments have altered policies of general application in response to changing circumstances, such as financial crises, or in response to public demands when environmental and other laws are violated.
Some of these interpretations have placed the economic interests of transnational corporations over and above the sovereign right of states to regulate and govern their own affairs.
Malaysian political parties, professional organisations and civil society groups have been quick to point out the pitfalls and traps set by the TPPA.
Hold government to promise
The legal profession in many countries has raised serious concerns about the Investor-State dispute arbitration provisions, proposed in the TPPA, pointing out that such a regime could undermine justice systems and the fair resolution of legal disputes.
It is a legitimate concern of foreign investors that they have access to an open and independent judicial system for dispute resolution in the host country.
It is therefore up to the Malaysian government to convince foreign investors that Malaysia’s judiciary is independent and impartial and that there is no justification for such a stringent dispute settlement system.
For example, the TPPA will strengthen the power of profit-laden pharmaceutical companies to challenge a country’s health policies on patents and generic drugs.
Many studies have shown that trade agreements with the United States or Europe have led to escalating drug prices, following strict patent rules on the sale of cheaper generic drugs and the consequent use of more expensive branded drugs.
During 2002–2006, enforced secrecy of data interrupted the introduction of cheaper generic versions of 79 percent of medicines released by 21 multinational drug companies. Such policies will drive up the cost of health care in an unacceptable way.
The TPPA will also enable the tobacco industry to challenge government policies and laws on smoking and tobacco control, enacted to implement obligations under the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
Incredibly, the governments of Uruguay and Australia are being sued by Philip Morris for their “plain packaging” regulations. But in its TPP negotiations, the government of Australia has asserted its support for the rule of law and has refused to accept or submit to the powers bestowed upon such a system of dispute settlement.
The Malaysian government must follow Australia’s example and reject the TPPA as it stands.
International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed has given a reassurance that the views and opinions of opposition parties and non-governmental organisations have been taken into account to protect the country’s interests.
Mustapa has promised that “if the agreement is detrimental to our sovereignty, we will not sign the TPPA” and that “the people’s views and that of national interest will surely be considered.”
The people of Malaysia must hold him to that promise, but not before there is a wider, open public debate. What better way to do that than having the TPPA debated meaningfully and openly in civil society forums and in Parliament?
There must be no secret negotiations or secret agreements. Transparency and accountability are imperative. Malaysia is not for sale or for exploitation.
DR RONALD McCOY is a former President of the Malaysian Medical Association and International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War.
Din Merican: the Malaysian DJ Blogger 
use the dispute resolution of the host Country? You guys must be dreaming. Would you trust the commercial dispute resolution system of China? No way. Would you trust the arbitrator of Malaysia ? You must be kidding. Look at the Election Commission ,supposedly Independent, but acts as a wing of UMNO. I would not put a penny in a country where the judges are appointed by people like Lingam and the Prime Minister. It is preferable to go under the watchful umbrella of an International body. Malaysia has the choice not to join if it wants to continue in its present “direct negotiation” cow projects. 1 bn Iskandar railway project, Perak you know whose daughters entry to railway project. Good luck to a country high in debt.
Trans Pacific Partnership… Hmmm very interesting. Unions and partnerships are put forward as a mutually beneficial embrace… they almost always end up as a kiss of death.
Dr. McCoy has got it right.
An earlier US President left this message :
“Trade with all nations but have Alliances with none”
Great pity that subsequent administrations have overlooked this.
Dato’ Dr. McCoy’s words and opinion should be given due consideration by the Malaysian Government. No need to rush it just to please or get a nod of approval from President Obama in his forthcoming visit. Accepting TPPA wholesale and hurriedly without careful scrutiny would be like allowing Malaysia to be colonised by the USA via its powerful transnational corporations – just like in the days of the East India Companies of the old British Empire. Jangan pelandok lupakan jerat, once bitten twice shy. Najib, don’t push your luck too much.
The best explanation of this insidious trade agreement by Dato Dr McCoy. Wish this was made clear to us from the start by those in Government as they would have been best placed to give us both sides of the deal.
When on earth did we ever condoned these ” Exclusive negotiations have been going on in secret since 2008. AND YET, 600 US business corporations have direct access to the deliberations. The only way in which information seeps out is through leaks.” This time if Umno/Bn Govt signed this TPPA, then we are truly & royally Forked.
does Malaysia need such a trade agreement to survive; are we hopelessly in debt?
they’ll wait till the public is tired of discussing it and quietly sign it in exchange for a good sum.
am I wrong?
to become a high income country Malaysia should beef up its education system and reduce dependence on foreign labour.
take the good Doctors advice seriously, put it on debate in parliament before doing anything.
An excellent article by Dato’ Dr. McCoy, giving a further peep into the “TPPA”. One can’t help wondering if the ongoing negotiations are a subterfuge. If so, can we hope that it is going to be in our favor? Are all the 10 countries negotiating with the USA on a level playing field?I can’t see countries like Japan and Australia, just to name two, compromising or undermining their sovereignty or judicial system. Therefore, one hopes that Malaysian sovereignty or judicial system is not worth less.
Yes, there is definitely a need for a bi-partisan review…not that we doubt the capability of the men at MITI.
Wah.. lotsa pressure on the redoubtable Tok Pa, ya? No wonder he’s getting paranoid.., eventhough it would seem that MITI is the only functioning ministry in the whole effing administration. The rest are.., coasting, resting and hiding in toilets.
Nah.., the agreement won’t be signed in October, unless Jibs wants to strangulate his already ballooning hernia. The only High Income we’re gonna see is UMNO’s.
As i said, the call is NOT MITI’s alone to make – but unfortunately the yes-men and mediocrity rules all over the other ministries and agencies. You guys might wanna throw some curved balls during the Public Forum called by MITI on 01.06.13? But be aware that there will be ‘plants’ asking questions with ready made, manufactured answers.. After which, you fellas will gorge on the Buka Puasa Feast – and forget why you were there in the first place. So much for ‘suggestions’.
Btw, Dato Dr RS McCoy has got to revivify his anti nuclear war thingy, by giving a tongue lashing to the Leader Kid in N.Korea. Imagine, importing crap Soviet era armaments from Cuba..