MITI OPENED TO PROPOSAL FOR A WHITE PAPER ON US-M'SIA FTA

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 20 (Bernama) -- The International Trade and Industry
Ministry is prepared to consider tabling in parliament a white paper outlining
the details of the United States-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement (FTA)
negotiation.

Deputy minister Jacob Dungau Sagan said a white paper would be a better
option than having to answer every question on the matter.

"It will take time to answer each and every question on the FTA
negotiation. By tabling a white paper, members of the house will be able to know
the details of the negotiation," he said when winding up the debate for the 2009
Budget for his ministry at the Lower House of Parliament Wednesday.

Tony Pua, an opposition MP had suggested that the ministry table with a
white paper to inform the members about the negotiation.

Pua said that the MPs had been debating the issue without knowing the full
details of the negotiation.

Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi, another MP also touched on the US-Malaysia FTA
and suggested that a referendum be held to gauge whether the FTA was important
to the country.

Sagan said that Malaysia would continue with the negotiation until a
mutually beneficial FTA was reached.

So far, Sagan said, both sides had met eight times. "We would like to
assure
that the team representing Malaysia in the negotiation will always keep to the
policies determined by the government," he said.

Besides the US, Malaysia was also considering the possibility of
negotiating
FTAs with non-traditional trading partners such as Venezuela, Cuba and Bolivia
apart from countries in the Gulf Coorperation Council, he said.

Meanwhile, Mohamed Azmin Ali questioned the award of two
approved permits (AP) for import of vehicles to two companies which he claimed
were related to former minister Rafidah Aziz.

The companies are Auto Stadt Sdn Bhd and Amira Ventures Sdn Bhd.
Azmin also claimed that the two companies were given the AP despite having
no showrooms.

-- BERNAMA