Don’t rush into trade agreements

UiTM Sabah political economist-lecturer Firdausi Suffian sai the government should ensure that foreign-flagged vessels repairing underwater cables are able to pass on their expertise to Malaysian workers. “Knowledge-sharing fosters local capabilities,” he said.

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia must ensure that its domestic business ecosystem is ready to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and cultivate highly skilled people, hence becoming a high value chain country before it signs or ratifies any trade agreement.

UiTM Sabah political economist-lecturer Firdausi Suffian said: “We need fewer constraints. (At the same time) we don’t want to be left out. We want to participate in free trade agreements (FTAs) but we also need to proceed with caution.