Wednesday May 20, 2009
Selangor to be first to have freedom of information law
By SHAILA KOSHY
PETALING JAYA: The Selangor state government will be the first state to table a Freedom of Information (FOI) Enactment in its legislative assembly by the end this year.
Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said the Pakatan Rakyat government in Selangor had decided to do so because it believed all citizens have the right to have and know as much information as they need.
“Freedom of information and media freedom stand shoulder to shoulder. Without access to information, how can journalists be effective in their jobs?” Khalid said yesterday at the government’s belated observance of World Press Freedom Day and the launch of its Communica-tions and Media Network - a monthly newspaper Selangor kini, a web portal Selangor kini and TV Selangor - at the Petaling Jaya Civic Centre here.
He said the state government had set up a Freedom of Information Taskforce, chaired by assembyman Elizabeth Wong, comprising of assemblymen and the public last year to en-sure an FOI Bill was tabled in the Legislature before the end of the year.
Asked at a press conference later what would happen if the state government declares a document public under its proposed FOI law but the Federal Government deems it a secret under the Official Secrets Act (OSA), Khalid said federal law would supersede.
Wong said the common view was that everything was under the OSA but their view was all information should be made public, with some exceptions.
Asked whether the draft enactment would be made public before it was tabled, Wong said yes, adding she was hoping to have it ready for the July or October meeting.
After the second reading, she said the Bill would be referred to a Select Committee that will have six months to get feedback and hold consultations with the public and public bodies and study the FOI laws in other countries.
Later, at a public consultation and forum themed “Freedom of Information: The Right to Reclaim”, Wong listed public interest override, legal privilege, health and safety as some of the usual exceptions to public access under any FOI law.
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