If transparency and openness result in the government being too 'naked', then  such efforts can be seen as similar to promoting pornography, Minister in the Prime Minister Department in charge of integrity Paul Low says.

Citing an analogy, Low said while other countries published an  auditor-general's report once a year, Malaysia presented it three times a year and this level of transparency was a surprising thing to his foreign counterparts.

"And the report they present is just a summary, not details of  every transaction. In our case, it's details of every transaction.

"So what they said to us, they said, it's good to have openness. Nakedness is good but they said what we are doing is promoting pornography.

“Why I say pornography? It is because it means everything (is exposed)," Low said when speaking at a forum in Kuala Lumpur.

The issue of openness, he explained, was whether society was able to digest it and not politicise matters.

"The issue is, how much openness? How much can society accept as openness in a responsible manner? Without spinning, without allegations, without exaggeration?

"This is the key point the government will ask," Low said, adding that he is all for openness.

'We are not ready for Freedom of Information Act'

Later, he told reporters that only until both the government and the people learn to use information responsibly will the country be ready for a Freedom of Information (FOI) Act.

Plus, to implement the FOI Act, the necessary infrastructure should be in place, Low said.

"The FOI Act is ideal, but... when you establish such a law, the first thing you got to know is that the Act is not free. Everything needs a boundary.

"To set up an FOI Act, you need an infrastructure, you may need 300 people to deal with so much information. So it's not the Act alone. You need information officers. At the moment, that's not feasible," Low added.

Meanwhile, Bukit Gasing state assemblyperson R Rajiv ( photo ) criticised Low for justifying against more transparency in government.

"In light of recent corruption and money laundering claims and accusations against Umno supremo and Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, it is beyond disgusting that a minister under the Prime Minister’s Department would equate government openness and transparency to pornography.

"To say that transparency is pornography is forgetting that transparency is integral in a democratic society and disrespects the very notion of the same democratic system that put Paul Low and his 'masters' in Putrajaya," he said in a statement today.

Rajiv said exposing details to the public, particularly on how public money is spent, should not be considered as a negative.

"Questioning the ability of the Malaysian society to rationally digest and evaluate comprehensive and truthful reports is akin to questioning the ability of the Malaysian society to think," he said.

 

Related reports

Najib: What 'failed state?' M’sia’s top of the class

Universal human rights not for us: PM

KL Mayor: Dataran Merdeka off limits for Bersih 4

Ahmad Awang named new Islamist party's adviser

Two career paths and what they tell of Umno

'No' to National Stadium for Bersih rally

S'wak polls after state budget in November?

'Rehashing' does not answer queries to 1MDB

Bending the law in Bolehland

We have the potential to become a failed state

Kit Siang's Sept 16 hope for new Pakatan

Najib now seeks help from retirees

Ku Li: I'm not that 'old man' in topple plot

Who’s mystery man behind the ‘donation’?

Much to probe from minister’s revelations

Thanks for confirming ‘charge sheet’ story

Dr M is right, cash is king for Najib

Bare all first, then we look at funding reform

EC holds hearing on 'dubious' voters

Wan Adnan, how ridiculous can you get?