YOURSAY | ‘Is what Mustapa Mohamed has already conceded a case of fait accompli?’

FellowMalaysian: Once again, our ministers have conned and duped Malaysians and into accepting a law shovelled down our throats which only increases the economic plight of its people.

Deputy Finance Minister Ahmad Maslan bilked the public into believing that there is more to gain with the Goods and Services Tax (GST) imposed as many goods and services will be exempted from the hitherto Sales and Services Tax (SST).

Six months down the line after GST was implemented, Malaysians, especially the poor, have now realised that costs of living has increased drastically as most traders and retailers are compelled to pay GST.

With the introduction of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA), the cost of medicines and other goods that originates from Western countries will be further increased as the release of cheaper generic drugs will be deferred for eight years.

Is what International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed has already conceded a case of fait accompli?

Anonymous_1405071260: MP for Klang Charles Santiago is not entirely correct here. The US and pharmaceutical companies wanted a 12-year period.

It was Australia which was leading the fight for a five-year deal. Please don't try to score points for the sake of doing so just like our current so-called ministers.

Also think about it. A business has to make profits. If the research data is freely available, what is in it for the pharma companies to innovate if the moment they are done, anyone can come along to take the information and launch their own products.

Not Convinced: Yes, companies need to make profits, but not obscene profits. Especially on essential items such as medicine and when poor people are dying everywhere for their lack of access to them.

And no one is talking about making research data freely available the moment they are done.

We are talking about extending the number of years these pharma companies are allowing to maintain their monopoly, much like stopping highway concessionaires from extending their concession period so that they can make even more profit.

Snake-in-the-Grass: Don't forget these simple truths.

a) An imported thing may not be a better thing.

b) A new drug may not be better than an old one or none at all.

c) Don't be led by the nose by people with bad motives through their advertisements and lies. d) Don't buy something which you cannot afford.

e) Don't think expensive stuff is better than cheaper stuff.

F) Learn to think for yourselves, otherwise others do the thinking for you, and you can do all the crying you want.

Which means no one else can take care of your health, except yourself. Just watch your cigarettes, beer, whiskey, flavour enhancers and no-exercise lifestyles, plus your stressful lives in congested cities, endless worries and falling ringgit, in addition to nasty bosses and idiotic ‘leaders’ whom you yourselves have put into place.

Senior: For ‘interest of Malaysians’, read ‘interest of the pirate and his crew’. Then you can see a better picture.

Has Najib fulfilled his promises to protect us under TPPA?

Straight-Talk: “We must ensure that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak is held responsible and answerable to the promises he and his government have made in the treaty,” said Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar.

Does our PM really care? He will as usual maintain his ‘elegant silence’ on such an important treaty. He cares only about his own political survival, the rest can suffer.

Anonymous 2316631438319659: The TPPA offers Malaysia an opportunity to be part of a consumer market with 800 million people.

Abandoning the TPPA negotiations now would mean allowing other countries to set the terms of agreement without considering Malaysia's interests and concerns.

Baiyuensheng: Sorry, the following extracts do not seem to suggest the interests of all the rakyat.

"...Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) negotiations agreed to take into consideration almost all of Malaysia's concerns and sensitivities, such as government procurement, state-owned enterprises and bumiputera issues..."

But I hope this becomes true - a longer transition period means that the Malaysian government is given a certain timeframe. Furthermore, TPPA stated that state enterprises (GLCs) are subject to the commercial trade rules.

Basically, the issues of state-owned enterprises (SOEs), government procurement and Malay 'rights' will eventually disappear or abolished. This is good news for the true believers of Islam, who believe in equality, justice and fairness.

Anonymous 2316631438319659: The TPPA is meant to create a level-playing field between GLCs and private firms. Many Malaysian GLCs already adopt international best practices but firms from other countries have yet to do this.

So the government wants to ensure that when GLCs compete with private firms, they compete on a commercial basis.

Alfanso: What do you expect from Najib? He had a hero's welcome . So how come so many came to support him?

On the other hand, what do you expect from the US? It’s business as usual, making suckers of Asians. For the US, it is good to have corrupt leaders. It is easier for them to negotiate.

Anticonmen: Mass petitions to US President Barack Obama is the only way to stop the nonsense.

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