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They said International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz’s rush to forge a Cabinet consensus for the FTA belied not only claims that Malaysia was not beholden to US pressures, but also assurances that a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis has already been conducted.
<P>Two weeks ago, it was reported that Rafidah
briefed ministers on 58 contentious issues holding up the FTA. They are expected
to submit their views this Wednesday, following which a decision would be made
on whether the FTA would be feasible or not.</P><P>US negotiators are rushing
to conclude the FTA with Malaysia by end of March to allow the George W Bush administration
to ‘fast-track’ the agreement and present it for congressional approval
within three months.</P><P>Despite this, Rafidah said Malaysia is not being pressured.</P><P><B>Important
consequences</B></P><P>However, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the conduct
of Rafidah’s ministry in ‘fast-tracking’ and limiting discussions
on the FTA was anything but sacrosanct.</P><P>“It’s a rather unholy
haste with which they are rushing through the FTA,” he said when contacted.</P><P>“A
cabinet meeting would typically meet for, at most, three hours to discuss things.
How can they possibly discuss the FTA, with all the issues at stake, and decide
whether or not to accept one with the US?</P><P>“There should be more deliberations,
consideration, and participation by more stake-holders in the discussions. The
possible changes, such as to agriculture and intellectual property rights, have
important consequences to the future of the country’s economy,” he added.</P><P>Meanwhile,
Monitoring Sustainability of Globalisation director Charles Santiago said Rafidah’s
directive for ministers to return with their views on the FTA and the 58 ‘deal
breakers’ contradicted her earlier assertion that a comprehensive study weighing
its pros and cons had already been conducted.</P><P>“If such a cost-benefit
analysis had already been done then why was the cabinet only now asked to give
their views on the contentious issues when these should have been done as part
of the analysis?” he asked.</P><P>The Anti-US FTA Action Committee for the
Northern Region noted that “many questions remain unanswered.”</P><P>“Until
today, despite all our requests and demands, the government has not disclosed
the detailed costs and benefits of such an FTA,” said committee spokesperson
Che Ani Mat Zain.</P><P>His statements were echoed by Consumers’ Association
of Penang (CAP) president S M Mohamed Idris, who said the deal should not be dealt
with in haste to meet the US deadline.</P><P>“Given the complex technical
and legal issues … we once again reiterate our call to the Malaysian government
not to rush into a decision to conclude the FTA.</P><P>“Instead, the government
should undertake a proper and thorough evaluation of the costs and benefits of
such an FTA with stakeholder consultations, including civil society groups,”
he said.</P><P><I>Source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/63754</I>
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