Penang Gerakan has ticked off the state government for leaving out the tabling of the Freedom of Information Bill for second reading, when the state legislative assembly reconvenes on Friday.

Publicity, information and communications bureau chief Dr Thor Theong Ghee questioned why the state has deferred this when it claims to be a competent, accountable and transparent (CAT) government.

Thor said civil society groups and NGOs had responded positively by attending the Select Committee's hearing in February, following the tabling of the Bill last November.

"We did this even though each organisation was given only 15-20 minutes to present our views," he told Malaysiakini .

"But two months have passed...many points, concerns, disagreements and doubts were raised but now (there is) only a deafening silence.”

It is learnt, however, that the Bill has not been slotted for the sitting because the state government is to present a White Paper on the Tan Hak Joo land scandal , which has cost the administration millions of ringgit.

As the sitting is azlan scheduled for only five days, the House may not be able to complete debate on the White Paper. This is expected to reveal the involvement of the previous administration under Gerakan and BN.

Lim had previously criticised MCA and Gerakan for their negative remarks about the Bill, saying the parties were "motivated by insincerity".

"(They) cannot get something done on their own but criticise us when we do something they have not done in 54 years," he had said.

‘Disclose details of projects’

Thor also questioned why Penang is behind Selangor which had passed its FOI law at its last sitting.

"Why doesn’t Penang do it too, as it is always promoting itself as a government which has achieved many firsts in its administration?"

"We understand that proper procedures and ample time are needed to pass a Bill but in this case, it appears that Penang is not as competent as Selangor.”

NONE He said the spirit of FOI is to make information available to the public and urged the Penang government to reveal information related to several projects pending passage of the Bill.

This includes public contracts, agreements, memoranda of understandings, minutes of meetings and any documents pertaining to the free Penang Wifi (by Redtone company), said Thor.

"Show us the same for the RM300 million eSPICE (formerly the Penang International Convention Centre), and the decisions related to the enforcement against illegal base transreceiver stations (related to telecommunications) to truly and sincerely walk the talk of FOI," he added.

"Otherwise freedom of information is going to end up as ‘freezing of information’.”