Message to BN: Don’t Look Back

Today I took part in the historic debate on Selangor’s Freedom of Information Enactment 2010 at the Selangor State Assembly.

This is Malaysia’s first FOI law. In my speech I remarked that at a time when the Federal Government is still relying on the Official Secrets Act, the Printing Presses and Publications Act, the Sedition Act and the Internal Security Act, Selangor is following other countries in implementing this forward looking legislation.

The Federal Government has tried to hide behind the OSA to avoid divulging concession agreements and audit report of Syabas and toll companies to the public.

As a result for so long government operated as a mystery to ordinary citizens, contributing to a sense of haplessness. The FOI Enactment can be the first step towards empowering ordinary citizens by making the government more transparent and accountable.

After all, technology is moving further ahead. Wikileaks.org, a website that enables whistleblowers across the world to post content, is now deemed by Time Magazine as the most important tool for journalists after the FOI Act.

However I did request the FOI Enactment to be improved in certain areas to fulfill the spirit of FOI.

Pakatan State Assemblymen including YB Hannah Yeoh, YB Lau Weng San, YB Amirudin Shari and YB Azmin Ali all spoke in support of the FOI Enactment and asking for amendments to strengthen the enactment. Unfortunately most BN State Assemblymen took an opposite approach.

They claimed that the enactment was void due to OSA. Another actually stated that the appointment of Information Officers as envisaged by the enactment was to perpetuate cronyism by hiring Pakatan Rakyat people into the position. They did not understand about exemptions by stating that the FOI Enactment is a threat to national security.

I tried to interject during their speeches, but to no avail. As I mentioned in my press conference, it really underlines how BN is looking backwards while the Pakatan Selangor State Government is pushing forward. After all, the FOI Enactment will provide room for BN to hold the State Government to account including on the flavour of the week – sand mining!

The only BN Assemblyman who took a more balanced view was YB Dato Subahan Kamal (Taman Templer) by acknowledging the value of the enactment but expressing concern on its implementation. He even gave room for me to interject and I duly credited him for his more positive approach.

After the second reading of the FOI Enactment, the State Assembly approved the enactment and appointed a FOI Select Committee chaired by YB Saari Sungib (PAS – Hulu Kelang) and consisting of YB Hannah Yeoh (DAP – Subang Jaya), YB Amiruddin Shari (Keadilan – Batu Caves), Dr. Yunus Ahmad Hairi (PAS – Sijangkang), YB Dato’ Dr. Karim Mansor (BN – Tanjung Sepat), YB Abdul Shukor Idrus (BN – Kuang) and myself to conduct public consultations to further improve the enactment before it’s third and final reading.

Photos are here.

The text of my debate is available here.