Penang Gerakan is complaining that the state government’s recently announced Freedom of Information Bill goes against the spirit of freedom.

Instea NONE d of freedom, it appears to be ‘freezing’ information, said state Gerakan publicity, information and communication chief Dr Thor Teong Ghee (right) .

He pointed out that the enactment is not applicable to items and purposes contained in the Official Secrets Act 1972.

Thor said if the state government is truly sincere in advocating freedom of information, it would have released several recently-signed business agreements, including the Bukit Jambul Country Club management, free wifi in Penang, and the Teluk Bahang theme park agreements.

“Please release the agreements now, we do not have to wait until the FOI Bill is enacted,” he told a press conference in Penang.

Thor was accompanied by the state Gerakan’s legal and human rights bureau chief Baljit Singh, education chief Mark Ooi Swee Hing, and Youth vice-chief Tan Kah Leong.

freedom of information He was responding to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s criticism of Penang Gerakan in Chinese- language dailies that the latter did not enact the FOI Bill while it was in power.

Lim, on Nov 14, had said that the state had faced obstacles in presenting the Bill from the legal advisor until Selangor tabled theirs.

He also called the lawyers in Gerakan "hopeless" if they did not know that the Bill was not yet an Act, and that a select committee had been appointed to seek feedback on the issue.

‘Our advice is valid’

Thor said Lim’s comment was merely a “knee-jerk reflex” towards Gerakan’s well-meaning advice to the state government.

“We are merely playing our role to give constructive views; our lawyers in Gerakan are not stupid, we know that every Bill has to be debated thrice before it is enacted, even schoolchildren know this,” he added.

“Or is the CM acting stupid in this matter? What is wrong when views are given to make this Bill better? Our advice is valid and should be taken seriously."

He advised Lim to listen to advice before “opening his mouth” and urged the CM not to “spin statements and deviate attention” from the real issue at stake.