2016 anti-TPPA rally

The Anti-TPPA (Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement) Rally or Perhimpunan Aman Bantah TPPA (Malay) is a rally that was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on January 23, 2016. The rally was organised by a coalition of non-governmental organisations, Bantah TPPA and Kongres Rakyat, and supported by various non-governmental organisations.^[2] The rally was held in response to the Malaysian government's signing of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement in which twelve countries, namely Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, United States, Vietnam and including Malaysia concluded the trade negotiations in Atlanta on October 5, 2015. Opponents of the agreement argued that although TPPA could increase Malaysia's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), it was at the people's expense as it does not take into account issues faced by the people. The rally saw participants march from various points in Kuala Lumpur to their eventual destination, Dataran Merdeka.^[3]

Background

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a trade agreement among twelve Pacific Rim countries concerning a variety of matters of economic policy, which was reached on 5 October 2015 after 7 years of negotiations. The agreement's stated goal had been to "promote economic growth; support the creation and retention of jobs; enhance innovation, productivity and competitiveness; raise living standards; reduce poverty in our countries; and promote transparency, good governance, and enhanced labor and environmental protections." Among other things, the TPP Agreement contains measures to lower trade barriers such as tariffs,^[4] and establish an investor-state dispute settlement mechanism (but states can opt out from tobacco-related measures).^[5][6] Concerns have been made such as government procurement, state-owned enterprises, Bumiputera issues and public access to affordable drugs and healthcare, while ensuring necessary incentives for pharmaceutical innovators^[7] and rising cost of living.^[8]

The organiser's application for holding the rally at Dataran Merdeka was rejected by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL). This however has not deterred the organisers from insisting that the rallly would still take place.^[9]

Participants

It has been estimated that there will be 20,000 people attending the rally, as well as 300 non-governmental organisations.^[10]

• Bersih^[11]
• Perkasa^[12]
• Ikatan Muslim Malaysia (Isma)
• Gabungan Mahasiswa Islam se-Malaysia (Gamis)
• Pertubuhan Ikram Malaysia (Ikram)
• Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (Abim)
• Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM)^[13]
• Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS)^[14]
• Amanah ^[15]
• Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) ^[16]

DAP slammed by PSM

PSM Secretary General, Sivarajan slammed Lim Guan Eng of DAP on their stands regarding the rally and the upcoming protest on 23 Jan 2016. In the statement available on PSM's Facebook page, Sivarajan said : "LGE be mature and take the challenge ! PSM has been fighting the pro corporate US free trade agreements since 2006, when Rafidah Aziz negotiated the US Msia FTA. When DAP and PKR were still undecided on the matter then, and preferred not to offend the US, PSM has already been organizing protest at the US Embassy against US corporate interest. Thus, we will do the same come Saturday 23/1 to Protes the looming TPPA ! While various civil society and students held a protest outside USM when Minister Musthapa Mohamed went for a TPPA roadshow there recently, LGE decided to have a late nasi kandar dinner with the MInister instead. Thus, its not only PSM, but many want to know on which side is DAP and LGE on this issue. So LGE, if you are serious about fighting against TPPA, take the challenge, ask your branches to mobilize to attend the protest. We, PSM will be there, I hope to see you there too."

^[17]

References

Protests in Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur	1946–47 anti-Malayan Union protests 1947 All-Malaya Hartal 1967 Keranda 152 rally 1969 Malaysian students pre-election demonstrations 13 May 1969 riots 1969 PMUM Anti-Tunku demonstrations 1970 PMUM vs PBMUM Papan Tanda demonstrations 1971 Malaysian constitutional crisis 1983 Malaysian constitutional crisis 1988 Malaysian constitutional crisis 1993 Malaysian constitutional crisis 1998–2000s Reformasi demonstrations 2001 Kampung Medan riots 2007 BERSIH 1.0 rally 2007 HINDRAF rally 2008 Black 14 rally 2008 Malaysian fuel hike protests 2009 Keranda 152 rally 2009 anti-ISA rally 2009 anti-Menteri Besar Terengganu rally 2011 anti-Peaceful Assembly Act rally 2011 BERSIH 2.0 rally Occupy Dataran 2012 Free Anwar 901 rally 2012 BERSIH 3.0 rally 2012 anti-Lynas rally 2013 anti-Jamalul Kiram III infiltration protests 2013 KL 112, People’s Uprising rally 2013 Blackout 505 rallies 2013 Ops Turun, anti-price hike rally 2014 Red Pencil protest 2014 May Day anti-GST rally 2015 Rakyat Hakim Negara rally 2015 Kita Lawan, May Day anti-GST rally 2015 #TangkapNajib rally 2015 Low Yat Plaza riot 2015 BERSIH 4.0 rally 2015 United People's rally 2015 Shutdown Sungai Besi rally 2016 anti-TPPA rally 2016 Keranda 152 rally 2016 Muafakat Selamatkan Malaysia rally 2016 Hancur GST, Undur Najib, Undur Rosmah, Bebas Anwar, Hidup Rakyat rally 2016 BERSIH 5.0 rally
Other	1946–50 anti-cession movement of Sarawak 1963 anti-Indonesia infiltration demonstrations 1964 race riots in Singapore 1966 Sarawak constitutional crisis 1967 Teluk Gong demonstrations 1967 Penang Hartal riot 1974 Baling demonstrations 1974 Tasek Utara, Johor demonstrations 1977 Kelantan riots 1985 Memali riots 1986 Sabah riots 1993 Sultan of Kelantan demonstrations 1998 Kampung Rawa riots 2009 Perak constitutional crisis 2009 1BLACKMalaysia protests 2009 cow's head protests 2009 anti-PPSMI rally 2010 Water for People rally 2011 Gathering of a Million Faithful 2012 Orange rally 2012 Green Rally to Putrajaya 2012 People's Lands rally 2015 Taman Medan anti-cross protest 2015 Sarawak for Sarawakians rally 2015 Penang villagers protests
Student activism in Malaysia · The Big Durian (2003 film) · Sepuluh Tahun Sebelum Merdeka (2007 film) · Malaysian Gods (2009 film) · Tanda Putera (2013 film)