KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court today denied leave to a legal challenge against Malaysia's entry into the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement.
Senior federal counsel Shamsul Bolhassan confirmed that judge Datuk Hanipah Farikullah did not allow the judicial review to proceed as the 12-country trade pact has not even been signed by Malaysia.
Shamsul acted for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, International Trade and Industry Ministry and the government during the chamber matter today.
Counsel Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla appeared for non-government organisation Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (Abim), who was one of the judicial review applicants.
Abim and the two other judicial review applicants who are also NGOs - the Urusetia Menangani Gejala Sosial (Unggas) and Persatuan Teras Pendidikan dan Kebajikan Malaysia (Teras) - would be appealing the verdict.
On Nov 4, Abim, Unggas and Teras filed the legal action against Najib, the Ministry and the government in order to prevent Malaysia from signing the historic trade pact.
The three NGOs seek a declaration that the signing of the TPP agreement contradicts provisions under the Federal Constitution, and a court order to prevent Najib, the ministry and the government from signing the agreement pending disposal of the legal action, among others.
It was reported that the government would table the TPP agreement for voting on Jan 27 and 28 at the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara respectively. The trade pact is set for signing in Feb.
New Zealand is expected to host the signing of the landmark deal.
The 12 TPP countries make up almost 40 per cent of the world’s gross domestic product and a third of global trade.