Miti Chief Secretary calls on Abang Johari
KUCHING: Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg received a courtesy call from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (Miti) Chief Secretary Datuk Lokman Hakim Ali at his office here yesterday.
The courtesy call was an engagement session with the Sarawak government to discuss the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
According to Lokman, several issues were raised, including the Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) study which is being implemented and will be finalised by Miti at the Cabinet meeting soon.
“We (Miti) also discussed the benefits that have been identified, apart from giving the latest feedback to Abang Johari regarding various items like the interests of the states that have been raised during stakeholder discussions that Miti has undertaken previously.
“This includes, with respect, to the role of the state government, ma ers related to land, Bumiputera interests, labour issues and so on,” he said when met by reporters a er the courtesy call.
He also stated that Abang Johari had taken note of the ma er and the state government will examine the text to be presented by Miti.
“We will also work together to see input that can be extended by the state government to Miti,” he added.
He also said, apart from Sarawak, Miti has previously implemented engagement sessions and been giving information related to CPTPP to state governments such as Johor, Pahang, Penang and Sabah.
CPTPP, he added, was signed on March 8, 2018 by 11 member countries - Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.
The agreement covers current trade issues, including market access, trade in goods and services, intellectual property, telecommunications, environment and competition policy.
Also present during the visit was Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.