Kuala Lumpur (dpa) – Fears that local companies might be displaced, leading to higher prices for goods, prompted thousands of Malaysians to demonstrate in Kuala Lumpur and urge the government not to sign the US-led Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA).
The protesters, carrying placards with words, “No to TPPA” warned the trade deal could erode the country’s sovereignty and create more unemployment for Malaysians.
The Malaysian Parliament is set to deliberate later in the month on whether or not to ratify the trade deal.
“We hope the government will listen and not rubber-stamp the TPPA in Parliament,” Maria Chin Abdullah, one of the protest leaders, said. “We are urging the lawmakers to vote according to their conscience.”
Security forces were closely watching the protesters. Police estimated the crowd consisted of between 2,000 and 3,500 people.
Among the countries that signed the TPPA are Brunei, Chile, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, Peru, the United States and Vietnam.
The Malaysian government says the deal would help increase the international competitiveness of local companies and would be ultimately beneficial for the country, since it would open up more markets for its products, such as palm oil and electronics.
The government also says there are enough safety nets to protect local companies and the country’s sovereignty.
The agreement was reached in October and is scheduled to be ratified by signatory countries next month in New Zealand.
