International Trade and Industry Minister Azmin Ali has reassured the people that the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) will not affect the rights and interests of the bumiputera if the government were to ratify it.

He said the CPTPP has provided a cutoff policy (leeway) to protect the rights and interests of the bumiputera as enshrined under the Federal Constitution when Malaysia signed the agreement in 2018.

“This provision is contained in Annex II (non-conforming measures) under the CPTPP, which specifically mentions that...