VIDEO l 2.45 min

The people now hold another key to safeguard Selangor under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, which opens up previously private documents for scrutiny, a state assemblyperson said.

NONE The FOI, which was pushed through by Pakatan Rakyat representatives over protests from the BN opposition, was now ready for its first public test, Bukit Gasing state assemblyperson Rajiv Rishyakaran ( right ) said.

“With a simple two-page form and RM12, any member of the public can ask for any information,” Rajiv said.

 

“My application will be a test case, I am asking for information on (Petaling Jaya) Section 13 development, which could affect surrounding residents,” he told reporters at the Petaling Jaya City Hall (MBPJ).

He said Section 13 was originally slated as an factory area, but appears to have turned into a commercial development. As a concerned citizen, Rajiv said he sought to know what development was still pending approval from MBPJ as it could create traffic congestion for residents in the area.

Rajiv then submitted the form, together with RM12 fee personally to the designated information officer, Ahmat Mohaayen Said, who is also the deputy secretary of MBPJ.

azlan This is the first submission since the FOI was enacted in 2011. The delay was due to the system for its implementation consuming two years to draw up.

“It is hoped that it will now create a culture where the organisation of MBPJ - state level and agencies - will have to be more careful with the work that they do,” the DAP’s Rajiv told reporters.

“No more hanky-panky, no more screwing up and we hope departments will operate more transparently, now that they know that they accountable .”

Rajiv said he encouraged the public to ask for Selangor expenditure details, to see where bridges were being built and at what cost, which areas were slated for upgrading and even study the minutes of state council meetings.

Under the FOI,  the state’s 41 designated information officers across 12 local councils and nine district offices and state departments, would have to reply within 30 days.

However, the state office could still block the release of some information by classifying it under the Official Secrets Act ( OSA) 1972, which now applies to many government documents that overlaps with federal concerns. Civil rights groups have urged that the OSA be abolished .

“But we hope that with the FOI, the discretion of MBPJ putting on OSA to all documents... that should come to a halt,” Rajiv said.

As an extra check, if the public is unsatisfied with the result given, they can also make a complaint to an appeals board, Rajiv said.

After Selangor, Penang was the second state to pass a FOI law in Malaysia.