Freedom of information – Part 2

The Pakatan Rakyat Penang state govt will be tabling the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill this Nov 4 in the state assembly.  Penang is the second state in Malaysia to pass this bill after Selangor which have enacted the FOI bill in April 2011 (this year).  Heavy criticisms and strong objections are expected from the state opposition, the umno-BN coalition party.

Once the FOI bill is enacted, it will allow Penangnites “the right to know” and in a limited way can be a mechanism to suppress the Official Secret Act (OSA).  

According to Ng Wei Aik, state assembly man and political secretary to the chief minister of Penang, the FOI have been embraced in the DAP election manifesto in 2008.  This passing of the FOI bill,  fulfills one of these promises made to the people of Penang. 

The “Freedom of Information — The Penang’s Experience Forum”  held on oct 29, 2011 in Caring Complex, Penang was jointly organized by  Pertubuhan Wartawan dan Jurugambar Akhbar Cina Pulau Pinang (PEWAJU),  Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ),  Coalition for Good Governance Penang (CGGP),  Suara Rakyat Malaysia, SUARAM (Penang Branch) and Sembang-sembang Forum.

Invited speakers were Prof Abu Bakar Munir (Professor of law, former Dean of the Faculty of Law, University Malaya),  Anil Netto, (Activist and Aliran Exco member),  Rowena Yam (Chief of Political Training Bureau, Gerakan) and Ng Wei Aik (State Assemblyman and political secretary to Penang Chief Minister) 

Moderator: Himanshu Bhatt (Northern Region Bureau Chief of The Sun Daily)

This is Part 2 of 2 videos.

Video by Lim Boo Seng, Citizen Journalist