KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 8): Former International Trade and Industry Minister Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, who is well-known for her outspoken and forthright attitude, said the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) should not be politicised as it will tie the hands of the government negotiators.

Rafidah is of the view that the TPPA is a good move for the country, especially since Malaysia is only a "tiny nation" with a small market compared to the vast market that will open for the Malaysian players the moment the deal is inked.

"There is a cost (to signing the TPPA), but if the benefits outweigh its costs, why worry? You can't have everything. You will lose some and win some," she told reporters on the sidelines of the second day of the Malaysian Legal and Corporate Conference here today.

"To me, the Malaysian market is so small. What have we got to lose compared with what we will gain? How long do you want to be a frog under a coconut shell?" she asked.

"Who wants to open up our country so that we will be trampled? We must have faith in our negotiators. What we need to do is open up the market rationally, we give what we can afford to lose and negotiate for what we want.

"When you politicise an issue, the government will be hard pressed to make any offer because they are afraid someone will come in and politicise the matter," said Rafidah.

Twelve Pacific Rim nations, including Malaysia, on Monday reached a final agreement on the largest regional trade accord in history, after nearly eight years of negotiations.