I think he is the most trustworthy and
important leader in the world. I hope
Malaysia will withdraw from negotiations.
Masatoshi
Takeshita
August
28, 2013
English translation of an excerpt from NHK News – August 27, 2013 –
Former
Prime Minister of Malaysia Says TPP Will Lead to Colonization Again.
Former Prime Minister
Mahathir, who served Prime Minister of Malaysia until 2003 for 22 years, spoke at a
forum on TPP held in Kuala Lumpur, capital of Malaysia on 26.
At the forum, Dr. Mahathir stated that the
U.S. would gain far more benefit from TPP than Malaysia. He severely pointed
out that “TPP is nothing but a U.S. plot to incorporate Asian Pacific area
countries into their sphere of influence in order to cope with the threat of
China which has been expanding economic growth.”
Additionally, Mr. Mahathir said, “If Malaysia sign the TPP, the nation will not be able to
make a decision without foreign intervention, which will lead to colonization
again” and expressed strong opposition to TPP.
Malaysia participated in TPP negotiations
in October 2010. Recently, however,
there have been more and more objections to TPP over the field of negotiation
such as correction of preferential treatment of state-owned enterprises and
extension of term of pharmaceutical patent.
It appears that the remarks of Mr. Mahathir, who has a strong influence
on political world even after retirement, will have no small impact on public
opinion.