'Declassify other state documents too'

The Selangor government should do more than declassify certain documents to really show that its is committed to freedom of information, said a DAP legislator today.

In his state Budget 2010 debate, Kampung Tunku assemblyperson Lau Weng San said that documents such as the minutes of local authorities' full committee meetings should always be made public.

He also urged the disclosure of bills of quantity regarding particular projects or tender of local authorities, land office, district office or the state government.

"The declassification of these documents is important to ensure that any project or tender of the government is transparent," said Lau ( left) .

He added that such a move, for example, would help people judge for themselves the types of materials used for a development project .

Lau put forward the suggestion in the wake of the state government's move to declassify several documents on failed development projects under the previous Barisan Nasional's administration.

A series of three documents

Early this week, Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said during his Selangor Budget 2010 budget speech that his government would declassify records by exercising his powers under Section 2(c) of the Official Secrets Act.

As a starter, the administration would release a series of three documents, which will be made public through the state government's website and in the form of booklets.

The series of the documents, said Abdul Khalid, would reveal ‘the truth' behind abandoned housing development projects as well as failed reforestation projects.

The menteri besar also said the exercise could assist the victims in taking legal action against the developers.

"Action can be taken by the small holders or the house buyers (victims). We know they wanted to take legal action before this but they could not do so as they did not have sufficient information.

"But now that they have all the information, we will help them to proceed with legal suits. We have a legal aide who can assist them," he had said yesterday.