Out of 1,499 respondents polled, an overwhelming 1,107, almost 75 percent, voted that the TPPA will benefit Malaysia.
“There was overwhelming support for the TPPA. (But) we cannot deny there are the ones who does not agree.
“Even though the number is small, we cannot ignore them,” Gerakan Youth legal bureau chief Chai Ko Thing said in a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.
After the survey ended, he said they conducted a post-morgen analysis and concluded that most of those who disagreed with the TPPA did not seem to fully understand the impact and purpose of the agreement.
“Maybe it’s too complex or technical, causing the people to not understand it,” he said.
Chai suggested that the International Trade and Industry Ministry (MITI) should simplify their TPPA explanations so that the general public can understand it better.
The survey was conducted through the bettermalaysiapoll.org website and started on Jan 4.
Chai said the survey was open to anyone, though each device can only vote once.
Death penalty next
They will continue to post new surveys on various issues to gather feedback from the people, he said, adding that their next poll is related to the death penalty.
Gerakan Youth deputy chief Andy Yong added that MITI has actually done an admirable job of informing the public of the TPPA so far.
“MITI also organised dialogues (on TPPA) in rural areas which is an act that deserves to be applauded,” he said.
The TPPA is a multinational free trade agreement in which the US is the main proponent.
Apart from Malaysia, other countries involved in its secretive negotiations include Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Mexico, and Canada, among others.
Critics fear that the TPPA will wipe out local businesses, as well as threaten Malaysia’s sovereignty due to a clause allowing foreign corporations to sue the government for actions that result in loss of profits.
Parliament will debate on whether or not to sign the pact during the special Dewan Rakyat session next week.
selangoronline.com 
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