Selangor is challenging the federal government's long-held culture of secrecy by tabling a Freedom of Information Act (FOI) in July.

khalid ibrahim low siew moi othman omar new pkns selangor chief khalid ibrahim pc 231208 02 Announcing this, Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim said his state administration is seeking the people's feedback on establishing a transparent government.

In commemoration of World Press Freedom Day which was on May 3, the state government initiated the move by holding a consultative forum to work towards fulfilling Pakatan's election manifesto to repeal the Official Secrets Act (OSA).

In hopes of achieving this, Khalid acknowledged that information was crucial for the people to form their own judgement on issues as well as to enhance effective governance.

The tabling of the FOI Act is to facilitate information flow from the government to the public in the effort to boost transparency.

Speaking to reporters after the launch of tvselangor.com and a monthly newsletter Selangorkini , Khalid said that the state had already set up an action committee to formulate the contents of the Act and ironed out any problems.

Tvselangor.com is an Internet-based television station while monthly newsletter Selangorkini will serve as the state's mouthpiece to promote its activities.

In tabling the Act, Selangor will be the first state in the country to adopt the move to minimise the purview of the OSA, which prohibits the dissemination of information classified as official secrets.

Khalid conceded that generally "federal government laws overwrites the states laws".

"But when it comes to state documents, the state has the right to contest the decision of the federal government unless there are some information that could jeopardise the state or the country.”

Meanwhile, Selangor state executive councillor Elizabeth Wong said the bill “will offer clarity on the separation of federal and state authority as it will also cover public bodies which are under state jurisdiction”.

Independent commission to maintain 'check and balance'?

Wong, who heads the action committee further explained that once the bill is enacted, the local councils in the state should adopt the law and allow the people to access information that relates to them.

She added that there is also a proposal to form an independent commission to maintain “check and balance”.

elizabeth wong 170209 Furthermore, Wong stressed that the Pakatan state government is pushing for the enactment of the bill as a reference for future administrations.

“We want to do it properly and we want something permanent, let's say in 10 or 20 years from now when all of us are no longer here, if there is nothing (concrete) in place, policies can be overturned... so it is important to set it in stone,” she added.

“The bill which is expected to be tabled in July for first reading in the state assembly. It will then be subjected to further feedback and study,” said Wong.

She also explained that, should the bill be passed there would be specific positions created to ensure proper and timely management and distribution of the records.

According to Wong, some of the advantages of the bill are:

1) Civil servants could get a clearer picture of the work they are doing and be more efficient.

2) Reverse the negative image of the state government being too secretive and help build a more trusting relationship with the people.

3) It would help weed out corruption by being more transparent regarding government policies and contracts.

4) It would help journalists access information effectively.

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