Rafidah does the FTA flip flop

"I like to emphasise that without a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States, it is estimated that Malaysia will lose out in increasing exports to the country," said Rafidah.

She added Malaysia will fail to woo crucial investment from the United States and bolster exports to its biggest trading partner without a bilateral free trade deal.

[Rafidah on March 20, 2007]

"The Americans have long been here before the FTA ... To them the FTA is just another bonus, if it does happen," Rafidah told reporters, when asked about the impact of stalled talks on investment.

"It will not have any impact, negative or positive ... The trend has been good even without an FTA," she said.

[This is Rafidah on Feb 13, 2007 - just 36 days before her change in stance]

So what has happened in between for the minister to give us an alarming statement now? Has she managed to convince her cabinet members on her insistence to sign the FTA?

What about the outstanding 58 issues? Will the public ever know what they are? No one outside Rafidah and her ministry people know what is being given away. Neither do we know the full impact of the FTA.

Typical government propaganda this. Strike fear in the hearts of the people and push for something without any public feedback or participation.