Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) has urged the government to table the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in the Dewan Rakyat before signing it.

Following the US’ withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) in January 2017, the agreement was re-worked and re-named the CPTPP.

In its memorandum to International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapha Mohamed today, PSM urged the ministry against signing it.

“The CPTPP text needs to be presented and debated in Parliament immediately, before the deal is signed, like what was done with the TPPA previously,” the party’s memorandum states.

The next session of Parliament begins on Monday, March 5.

The cabinet has endorsed the CPTPP and Mustapha previously said Malaysia was on track to sign the pact on March 8 (next Thursday) in Santiago, Chile.

PSM’s two other demands are that the ministry should perform a cost-benefit analysis and make the results public; and that it holds consultations with civil society organisations and stakeholders to enable scrutiny of the CPTPP text.

“The ministry must respect the voices of the people… it is very irresponsible of the ministry to carry on with CPTPP discussions without first bringing it to the attention of the public,” it said.

PSM handed the memorandum to the ministry’s Strategic Negotiations Division director Syahril Syazli Ghazali at the ministry’s headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

It was signed by 24 organisations, including PSM.

Will the deal benefit Malaysians?

PSM’s primary concern with the CPTPP is that it might not benefit the country, especially without US involvement.

“Should Malaysia remain in the CPTPP when the US is not involved? Since this would mean less market opportunities.

“What is the incentive for Malaysia to join the CPTPP… (when it) already has free trade agreements with many other countries?

“If Malaysia wants to remain in the CPTPP, has the ministry pushed for better provisions to protect the interests of the rakyat, or to benefit our economy?” it asked in the memorandum.

PSM also opposed the “toxic” provisions inherited from the much-protested TPPA that it said were contained in the new pact.

This included a provision compelling Malaysia to sign the UPOV91 treaty into law, which would bar farmers from exchanging and trading agriculture seeds.