Address: 433A, Jalan 5/46, Gasing Indah, 46000 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.
Telephone: +6 03 7784 3525 Fax: +6 03 7784 3526
Email: suaram@suaram.net Web: www.suaram.net
PRESS STATEMENT: 1 APRIL 2011
SELANGOR FOI ENACTMENT: THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD FOLLOW THE DEMOCRATIC EXAMPLE
Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) congratulates the Selangor State Government for passing the Freedom of Information (FOI) Enactment today. This first FOI legislation in Malaysia and the initiative was taken by the Selangor State Government together with NGOs and the people of Selangor.
SUARAM commends this commitment by the State Government towards providing legal and official channels for people to access official information. Such mechanisms play a crucial role in helping individuals and communities alike make informed decisions on matters that could affect their lives and livelihood. Further, FOI legislation is a very crucial step towards competency, accountability and transparency in governance.
Civil society organisations and opposition political parties in Malaysia have long called for the abolition of the Official Secrets Act (OSA 1972) in favour of FOI legislation which should clearly and narrowly define the boundaries of official secrecy. SUARAM too looks forward to the implementation of the regulation for the rakyat to benefit from the law.
The Selangor State Government now has made a genuine breakthroughs as far as the promoting a more democratic society and awaits its contemporaries in Penang to follow suit at the next State Assembly meeting end of this month.
Now the question really lies at the Federal Government on its abolition of the OSA. The Federal Government should follow the democratic example set by the Pakatan Rakyat government after being in power for 3 years compared with 54 years of Barisan Nasional rule.
SUARAM commends this commitment by the State Government towards providing legal and official channels for people to access official information. Such mechanisms play a crucial role in helping individuals and communities alike make informed decisions on matters that could affect their lives and livelihood. Further, FOI legislation is a very crucial step towards competency, accountability and transparency in governance.
Civil society organisations and opposition political parties in Malaysia have long called for the abolition of the Official Secrets Act (OSA 1972) in favour of FOI legislation which should clearly and narrowly define the boundaries of official secrecy. SUARAM too looks forward to the implementation of the regulation for the rakyat to benefit from the law.
The Selangor State Government now has made a genuine breakthroughs as far as the promoting a more democratic society and awaits its contemporaries in Penang to follow suit at the next State Assembly meeting end of this month.
Now the question really lies at the Federal Government on its abolition of the OSA. The Federal Government should follow the democratic example set by the Pakatan Rakyat government after being in power for 3 years compared with 54 years of Barisan Nasional rule.
Released by,
Sarah Devaraj
Local and Participatory Democracy
SUARAM Coordinator
013 3470860
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