Explain benefits of FTA first, govt urged
The Star | Malaysia | May 29, 2006
Explain benefits of FTA first, govt urged
ALOR STAR: Kedah farmers have asked the government to explain the benefits that they could gain from the USA-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
Kedah Farmers Action Committee chairman Ahsin Salleh said the farmers must be informed about the FTA before the government proceed with the FTA discussions scheduled to be held on June 12 in Penang.
“We hope that the government will postpone the discussions until the FTA and its implications are made known to the farmers,” he said.
Yesterday, Kedah Farmers Action Committee members submitted a memorandum to Kedah Agriculture Department director Abdul Rahman Ismail.
In the memorandum, addressed to Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, the farmers wanted the government to reconsider the USA-Malaysia FTA.
They also wanted to know the impact of the FTA on padi farmers because under it, the United States would be able to export more agriculture produce, especially rice, to the country.
Ahsin said the committee also planned to submit another memorandum on the issue to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz.
