INVITATION TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL DINNER OF TPPDEBATE.ORG
16 DEC 2016

TPPDebate.org is a web platform that promotes public debate about the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a controversial trade pact to be signed by 12 countries including Malaysia. TPPDebate.org provides a neutral ground for both sides of the debate to raise arguments backed by facts and figures on how Malaysia and Malaysians will be affected by the TPP. Members of the public can voice their opinions and concerns, and policymakers can tap into the sentiments on the website to better make their decisions on the matter.

The TPP has received mixed reactions from civil society. Proponents of signing the agreement argue that Malaysia’s economy will benefit from joining the TPP as the TPP countries account for almost 40 percent of the world’s GDP and a third of global trade. Those against the TPP argue that Malaysia will lose its sovereign rights because of the investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanism enabling corporations to sue the country for lost profits, access to medicine and knowledge by regular Malaysians will be affected by tightened control over intellectual property rights, among other impacts. The TPP text will be debated in the Malaysian parliament in late January 2016.

We would like to cordially invite you to the press launch of TPPDebate.org, with the following details:

• Date: 16 December 2016 (Wednesday)
• Time: 11am
• Venue: Malaysian Centre for Constitutionalism & Human Rights (MCCHR) A-3A-8, Pantai Business Park, Jalan Pantai Baharu,  59200 Kuala Lumpur (link to map)

Speakers at this event are Wan Saiful Wan Jan, Chief Executive of Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) and Azlan Awang, Deputy Chairperson of the Bantah TPPA coalition. There will also be a demonstration of the TPPDebate.org website.

Please RSVP to Dr Tan at info@tppdebate.org by 15 December 2015 to indicate your participation. The agenda to this event is annexed herewith.

We look forward to having you at our event.