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Student group not happy over Obama’s Universiti Malaya visit

US lawmakers want Malaysia and others punished for failing to act on human trafficking

Student group Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM) is against US President Barack Obama's (pic) scheduled visit to Universiti Malaya on Sunday where he is expected to host a town hall session with young leaders from Southeast Asia.

In a statement, the student group said that this was because Obama had disappointed many quarters, including Muslims, with his country's lack of assistance over the suffering and oppression suffered in some parts of the world.

SMM chairman Mohd Bukhairy Sofian said that despite the conflict in Egypt, there was no reprimand from the US.

"Although recognised as a powerful country, they are biased on the issue of oppression against human rights.

"And the cruelty of the Zionist regime is still going on against the Palestinians and Obama is seen as being pro-Israel," said Mohd Bukhairy.

SMM also questioned if Obama's visit will touch on the status of the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA), where many questions surrounding the trade pact's impact on the country's sovereignty have remained unanswered.

"The people are wondering if Obama's visit will involve discussions on the TPPA and whether the agreement would be signed," Mohd Bukhairy added.

The TPPA is an agreement that would open up Malaysia’s economy to corporations mainly from the US.

In return, it opens up the US economy to Malaysian firms, particularly in the electronics sector.

Its critics have charged that it would, among others, raise the price of healthcare and give foreign corporations too much power in the local economy.

The TPPA also demands that participating countries not give preferential treatment to state-owned enterprises or government-linked companies. – April 23, 2014.