Activists pushing for the enactment of a Freedom of Information Act (FOI) will take their campaign to Kelantan next week.

Calling themselves the National Coalition for a Freedom of Information Act, they will hold several meetings with parliamentarians, community leaders and concerned groups during the four-day campaign in the only state controlled by PAS.

The coalition comprises 34 non-governmental organisations as members and is engaged in training and advocacy on institutionalizing transparency and integrity through FOI Act.

The coalition secretariat, Centre of Independent Journalism (CIJ), said the meetings will also lend support to the campaign for the adoption of the Right To Know legislation in the state.

"Since Husam Musa (PAS vice-president) has declared his commitment publicly to ensure that the act will be adopted, we decided to start the lobbying process in Kelantan," CIJ executive director Sonia Randhawa said during the launch of 'Access to Information and the Environment' report at a Petaling Jaya hotel today.

The event, organised by Article 19 and CIJ, also witnessed the launching of a book titled A Haze of Secrecy . (Article 19 is an international human rights organisation which promotes freedom of expression and access to information)

CIJ is hoping that Kelantan could lead the way in pushing for the enactment of the FOI Act in the country.

"FOI Act can help a country to develop a culture of openness and the most important step to cultivate this culture is to allow the public the access to information as outlined in the act," said Sonia.

She reiterated that in the FOI legislation, there are ten principles that should be underlined in the FOI Act.

'PAS only adopts, not enforces'

They are maximum disclosure, routine publication, independent administrative oversight body, open government, exceptions, keeping costs low and processes simple, open meetings, reviewing other legislations, protecting whistleblowers and regular review of the act.

Sonia pointed out that the legislation drafted is to ensure the public's right to know and access to information that is of public interest. She asserted that the legislation restricting the free flow of information should be reviewed for compliance with international standards.

"The Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) and the Official Secrets Act (OSA) should be substantially revised," she noted.

Meanwhile, Kota Bahru MP Zaid Ibrahim opined that the commitment made by the PAS veep towards the adoption of the act should not be taken into consideration.

"So far, PAS is only adopting the laws but not enforcing them," said the outspoken BN parliamentarian who also present at this morning's event.

Nevertheless, he also said that although the Kelantan Government may choose to adopt the FOI Act, federal laws would still be referred to in disputes involving the federal government.