The Works Ministry has suggested to the cabinet that the Attorney-General take action against those responsible for 'stealing and exhibiting' toll concession agreements.

"It is classified secret ... a restricted document of the government," said its minister S Samy Vellu.

According to The Sun today, he suggested that cabinet made the Attorney-General's chambers take action against those responsible for the document leak.

On Jan 4, representatives of DAP, PAS and PKR showed reporters a copy of such a document pertaining to the Damansara-Puchong Expressway.

They argued that the 200-paged secret documents showed the government had guaranteed profits to concessionaires at the expense of road users.

Our duty

Speaking to reporters today on the matter, PKR information chief Tian Chua said those involved in exhibiting the document to the press were 'not frightened' by Samy's threats.

"As an opposition party, it is our duty to inform the public on the terms and conditions of the concession agreements,

"If they were to retrospectively label the document under the Official Secrets Act, then it only proves our point that the government wants to cover up an essentially flawed agreement," said Chua after attending a function at the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) headquarters.

Chua, along with PAS leader Dr Hatta Ramli and DAP leader Ronnie Liu were among politicians present at the press conference where the documents were revealed. The three held an impromptu press conference after the Suhakam function today.

The trio, when asked how they obtained the document, all kept mum.

Later in a statement, Chua said Samy should stop using intimidating tactic to muzzle public discussion on toll concession.

He added that the minister should have the courage to face the public and defend the agreements signed by under his recommendation.

"His bullying tactic will not frighten us," he said.

He also asked if Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was consulted on this matter as the premier is presently away attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Hatta meanwhile said the real issue was how could the purportedly secret document fall in their hands in the first place.

"We should firstly find out if it's stolen or taken from Samy's office or some other place," he said.

Review the matter

Meanwhile Transparency International-Malaysia said the government must explain why such information was considered "official secret".

"In the interests of transparency, good governance and accountability, TI Malaysia calls upon the government to urgently review the matter and consider releasing important documents such as these to public scrutiny and evaluation," said its president Ramon V Navaratnam in a statement today.

Ramon said the classification of such information as "official secrets" seemed to go counter to principles of transparency, accountability and good governance that the present administration was promoting.

He added that the concessions pertain to issues that were of vital public interests with direct

impact on the use of public funds and taxpayers' and consumers' interests.

"If the government is serious about improving the service delivery system, it must open to critique," he said.

He called upon the government to ensure transparency, accountability and good governance in all aspects of public policy especially where it pertains to public procurement, privatization and concessionaire agreements.