Manufacturers body says TPPA should be signed

KUALA LUMPUR: The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) said that the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) should be signed for the better good of the country.

At a joint press conference here on Wednesday, FMM president Datuk Seri Saw Choo Boon said the deal was a good one for Malaysia given the increased importance of trade today.

The government, he added, managed to secure a good deal in terms of the number of concessions. This deal would help the country move up the economic value chain.

Commenting on allegations from some parties that the deal was not good for the country, Saw said these must be backed up by facts and not weak statements nor just allegations.

"We are in the business and we know what is happening," he said.

Notably, the manufacturers understood that labour costs may go up pursuant to the deal but still reiterated their support for the TPP.

“Labour is one of the areas that is covered by the TPP, and the aims of that chapter on labour are very honourable. 

"We must protect the welfare of workers and we must ensure that workers get proper treatment and that their rights are protected. This is something that we cannot avoid. 

"If you look at how we treat foreign workers in Malaysia, we should feel ashamed of ourselves. 

"We expect wages of workers to go up. One of the problems of this country today is not the cost of living but rather the level of wages which is very low,” Saw added.