KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 10 – UMNO president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has stressed that UMNO will never apologise for defending the Bumiputera agenda, even in negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA). In this regard, he said, Malaysia had recorded history when TPPA members accepted and recognised the Bumiputera policy as part of the terms of the trade pact at the global level.

“This means UMNO has been successful in its struggle and the Bumiputera agenda was no longer just at the national level. It has now been hoisted and recognised on the global stage,” he added, in his speech, when officiating the opening of the UMNO General Assembly 2015 here Thursday.

Najib also said the TPPA was a comprehensive trade agreement that encompassed various scope and fields. It is also the first of such pacts to recognise Malaysia’s Bumiputera agenda. The TPPA involves 12 countries, namely Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam. It was finalised at the meeting in Atlanta (US) in October.

Included in the final text of the TPPA issued on Nov 5 is that Malaysia will not lose its sovereignty under the TPPA and the government will maintain the right to protect public interest, including steps taken to protect people, plants, animals and the security of the country.

In terms of government procurement, 30 per cent is allocated for Bumiputera contractors in respect of construction services open to TPPA members, while government-linked enterprises will have the flexibility to give priority to Bumiputera vendors of up to 40 per cent of annual purchases. The contents of the TPPA and two impact reports on it will be tabled in Parliament next month for approval before being ratified, two years upon signing.

Pocket News

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