Representatives of rights-based non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the media held a brainstorming session in Petaling Jaya yesterday to draw up an action plan to widen access to freedom of expression and the right to information among citizens.

Specific goals are to be met within three years in tandem with a regional effort that will also cover Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, East Timor and Cambodia.

The action plan targets reform and activities toward freedom of expression and information in four main areas politics and government; legislation; the media; and public awareness and education.

The meeting was jointly organised by Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram), Forum-Asia which is based in Bangkok and the London-based Article 19. The latter two organisations will provide funding and expert resources to all countries involved in the project.

The session brought together representatives of 14 NGOs, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), Bar Council, National Union of Journalists and representatives of the Internet media.

Tackling the trade-offs

Suaram executive director Cynthia Gabriel said the group agreed to organise the meeting to assist local efforts in promoting the freedom of expression and right to information.

"We felt that it would be useful to work on this regional project, especially following the Sept 11 terrorists attack on the United States. There have been many trade-offs between [civil] liberties and national security issues [since then]," she said.

The project comprises compilation of baseline data; critical analyses or input for existing and pending legislation; organisation of forums and training workshops for stakeholders; and advocacy activities that will also involve the public.

At the meeting, participants identified key problems associated with policy, laws and administrative practices in Malaysia. They also outlined current and new initiatives to tackle issues relating to freedom of expression and the right to information.

Task in progress

Participants unanimously agreed on the need to repeal or amend rights-unfriendly laws such as the Internal Security Act, Official Secrets Act and the Printing Presses and Publications Act.

This is to bring access to the specified human rights closer to constitutional guarantees, and to work on new legislation to foster access to rights, for instance through a Freedom of Information law.

In this respect, the law reform committees of the Bar Council and Suhakam, and the Law Review division of the Attorney-General's Chambers, may be approached for expert resources.

Dialogues and workshops are planned with policy-makers, legislators and politicians to discuss the issues and to build a mindset that is receptive to change.

Journalists present expressed the need to raise their professional standards and ethics, as well as to expand media freedom so that citizens are kept informed and can participate in decision-making processes.

The NGO community, meanwhile, will plan activities that will bring citizens into the loop and which will explain the significance of these freedoms in the context of daily life.