Activists to snub Putrajaya’s call and protest against TPPA during Obama visit
A protest planned against the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) during President Barack Obama’s visit to Malaysia next month will go ahead, snubbing Putrajaya’s call to the public yesterday not to hold such protests.
The pro-opposition Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) will continue with their protests against Malaysia's participation in the TPPA, saying it wants to highlight the public's rejection of the ongoing negotiations.
"The protests against Obama's visit will continue at KLCC on Oct 11. On Oct 10, the summit of the #Bantah Obama #Tolak TPPA will be held at the Sultan Sulaiman Club in Kampung Baru where Dr Mahathir and opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will be invited to voice their opinions against the TPPA,” SAMM propaganda director Edy Noor Reduan said in a statement today.
At the Parliament yesterday, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed urged the public not to hold demonstrations during the US president'a visit on October 11.
Saying the TPPA talks had yet to be concluded, he assured Malaysians that Putrajaya will not sign the agreement if it compromised the country's sovereignty or Bumiputera rights.
Putrajaya has come under pressure on this issue from Pakatan Rakyat as well as from non-governmental organisations and former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
An online protest campaign under the social media hashtag #Bantah Obama #Tolak TPPA also warns that the TPPA will drag Malaysia to the brink of economic colonialism.
"Conquerors in the modern era are no longer armed with tanks and guns, but come with a pen and an agreement," said Edy in his statement.
"The government has not given an accurate portrayal of the possible consequences the TPPA could have on Malaysia. So the online social media campaign will be the perfect platform to pass on the information which has leaked out from the TPPA's classified discussions," Edy said.
"SAMM will not allow the sovereignty of Malaysia to be gambled away as we realise that it is a trap which has been kept from public knowledge. It is not just the average Malaysians who have been kept in the dark, but even Ministers and MPs don't know what the TPPA is about," he added.
Edy said the online campaign has now entered its fifth of its total 14 legs nationwide. The fifth leg will be held in Taman Meru, Ipoh, tonight. - September 25, 2013.
