Malaysia PM keen to pursue FTA with India

E T B Sivapriyan and Jaishree Balasubramanian
Putrajaya (Malaysia), Jan 11 (PTI) Malaysia Prime
Minister Mohd Najib Razak on Monday said that the
India-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement was put on the
"backburner" due to protests in India's southern state of
Kerala where livelihoods of lakhs of farmers may be affected
due to cheaper imports from the South East Asian nation.
Najib who is embarking on a five-day India visit will
discuss the issue with the New Delhi. He will hold bilateral
talks with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on January 20.
The issue was put "on backburner due to adverse
reaction from one of the Indian states (Kerala). I would like
to see this move forward. Time is now ripe to put it back on
track," he said during an interaction with visiting Indian
journalists here.
"We want to conclude it by the end of this year. I
will rise the issue (with Indian officials) during my visit,"
he said when asked when the FTA is likely to be signed between
the two countries.
Fishermen in Kerala are unhappy because imports from
ASEAN countries like Malaysia and Singapore will affect the
livelihoods of traditional and small scale fishery sectors.
In Kerala, there had been strong agitation from
coconut, cashew-nut and spice growers, who fear the deal,
would jeopardise their livelihoods, as cheaper products from
neighbouring countries enter the country.
Razak will be accompanied by one of the biggest
delegations comprising eight ministers, five chief ministers
and business leaders. (MORE) PTI