Staff and visitors at the ministry of international trade and industry (Miti) were left with a morbid sight when a coalition against the proposed US-Malaysia free trade agreement (FTA) dumped a coffin outside its gates today.

It was one of two items – the other was a memorandum submitted to the ministry – to protest against the latest round of negotiations, which began today between US and Malaysian trade officials.

The 40 groups making up the People’s Coalition Against the US-Malaysia FTA also objected to the shroud of secrecy that has enveloped the past five rounds.

The last round went into a deadlock last March when the Malaysian delegation said it needed to refer 58 contentious issues to the cabinet.

Positive Malaysian Treatment Access and Advocacy Group for persons living with HIV/Aids – one of those behind the coffin idea – said this was to remind the ministry of the deadly impact of the US-Malaysia FTA.

According to its director Edward Low, an untold number of deaths can be anticipated as a consequence of the agreement. This will be due to higher cost of medical treatment due to US demands for more stringent patenting regulations and other intellectual property rights laws.

“(Higher) drug (and treatment) costs will affect all people, not just HIV/Aids patients, but those with cancer, diabetes and other conditions,” Low told reporters outside the ministry premises in Kuala Lumpur.

He also decried the lack of transparency with which the negotiations have been conducted between the US Trade Representative and Miti.

“Many memoranda have been sent to the ministry, but the government has not responded. They’re only listening to the US side. This is unfair trade,” he said.

Coalition coordinator Y Kohila of grassroots organsation Jerit echoed the point he made.

“What are the 58 issues? We want transparent negotiations, not secret (discussions). We can’t even be told (beforehand) where the negotiations will be held,” she told reporters.

‘Talk to us’

About 20 social and political activists participated in the 20-minute protest which began at 2.40pm, as some 50 police personnel – including about 20 of the anti-riot Light Strike Force – stood by.

A ministry representative met them outside the gates to accept their memorandum. Police officers refused, however, to allow the coalition to carry the coffin into the compound and it was left on the roadside.

The main thrust of the memorandum was the need for Miti, which is leading the negotiation team, to be forthcoming on the issues.

“People’s hopes (for answers) have not been entertained (by the government), and there has been no clarification on the issues raised by the coalition,” reads the memorandum which was in Bahasa Malaysia.

“All of a sudden, the formal negotiations are starting. Our question is: why the rush to sign an FTA with the US when many of the people’s questions have yet to be answered?”

Parti Sosialis Malaysia pro-tem treasurer A Sivarajan threw a dare to International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz: “We have the facts, so we challenge Rafidah to have a debate with us.”

The coalition also expressed the worry that Malaysia’s agricultural sector – especially rice and tobacco – would be flooded by US-government-subsidised farm products.

In addition to the shutdown of local companies generally and resultant job losses, there is a possibility that the FTA would stipulate equal, if not special, treatment for US companies.

Watch 4-min clip of Death at Miti gates.