PSM’s involvement in the struggle against free trade agreement started ever since Malaysia was in negotiations with the United States of America to sign the Malaysia – US FTA in 2006. A coalition of civil society organizations was formed . Several direct actions were being held at Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) and the US Embassy. The Malaysia US FTA did not materialize when the then government drew up red lines that Malaysia was not willing to compromise . Through our efforts and campaigns, the MITI Minister Rafidah Aziz backed out from the negotiations. Later with the change of US Presidency from GW Bush Jr to Barack Obama, the Malaysia – US FTA was shelved.

It was shelved, but only to be resurrected by Obama through a new name, the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement ( TPPA). Malaysia entered the negotiations in October,2010.  On Dec, 2010, the coalition submitted a protest memorandum to the MITI putting forward out opposition to the US led trade agreement . Several activities were kicked started since, then with forums organized, roadshows, printing of leaflets, mass distribution of info leaflets to the public were done regularly.

14th December , we organized a briefing session with Parliamentarians on the dangers of the TPPA at the Parliament house.  That was followed by a forum organized by MTAAG organization on the effect of TPPA on medicine prices. Among other tactics were , when we fax many letters of protest to the Prime Ministers Department to protest the TPPA. A Valentine card was also submitted to the PM on 14th Feb, 2011 as a sign that Malaysian love Malaysia and we don’t want to trade away our sovereignty through a trade agreement.

On 28th Februari, 2011 around 200 people participated in a protest at the Prince Court Hotel in KL, where  the EU-Malaysia negotiations were being held.

PSM and the coalition also engaged the Suhakam, Human Rights Commissions of Malaysia to address the concerns of the TPPA. We proposed that SUHAKAM carries out a complete Human Rights Impact Assessment (HRIA) study and advise the government on the TPPA. Even though the coalition gathered sufficient information and documentation to back our request ,but unfortunately the then SUHAKAM commissioner refused to attempt the HRIA.

The coalition and PSM also worked with the Malaysian Trades Union Congress, MTUC leadership to conscientize the unions on the downside of trade agreements . A forum was held on the 4th February, 2012 with MTUC members at the Petaling Jaya Community Library , PJ.

From 2013 onwards the coalition against TPPA was renewed with MTEM (Majlis Tindakan Ekonomi Melayu)  taking the lead to group together a larger group NGO’s . Consistently many more activities were done as follows;