Kelana Jaya MP Wong Chen said Malaysia has maintained a good business relationship with China thus far, which could be jeopardised if the country was seen to be taking the side of the United States through participation in the TPPA.

“Taking sides against China is very dangerous. What if they end up switching to buying rubber from Thailand, and palm oil from Indonesia?

“China is pushing for us to sign the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) with them and if we don’t do this, the Chinese will act against us,” he said at a press conference at Parliament lobby here today.

He also took a jab at Prime Minister Najib Razak, questioning how the latter could betray China after the country had bailed him out of trouble numerous times before.

“Is this how you (Najib) repay China?”

He gave the sale of Edra Global Energy Bhd to China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN) and Bandar Malaysia Berhad’s stake to China Railway Engineering Corporation Sdn Bhd (CREC) as some examples.

Wong also said Malaysia was not internally ready for any Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as issues such as poor governance and rampant corruption would deter it from gaining the advantage of having investors coming into the country.

He also pointed out that with the signing of any FTA comes the obligation to amend or introduce certain laws, which would also be done with the signing of the TPPA.

“Imagine if the Chinese demanded another 26 laws on top of the ones that will be introduced after we sign the TPPA. Imagine the mess we legislators will get into.”

The debate on the TPPA is ongoing in Parliament and will conclude today.