Selangor first to practise info freedom
(Malaysian Mirror) – Selangor expects to be the first state in the country to have a Freedom of Information (FOI) law when it tables the enactment next year; probably at the March state assembly sitting.
“While we may not be able to implement the law immediately, our Pakatan Rakyat-led state government is the first in Malaysia that is prepared to have such a law that encourages transparency in its administration,” said mentri besar Khalid Ibrahim (pic).
The move provides a good example of the kind of transparent policies that the state will adopt, he said when presenting Selangor’s Budget 2010 at the state assembly here on Tuesday.
However, he added, there would be exceptions to matters that are proven to be hazardous to the security of the state government.
“A transparent administration will increase investors’ confidence in the state as those doing business here would have free access to much-needed information,” Khalid said.
Drafts for public display
As an example, he added, five development drafts in Selangor that were recently released by the Town and Co
untry Planning Department will be on display for a month for the public to make their comments.
Aside that, the state government, through its select committee on competence, accountability and transparency (Selcat), continues to monitor and check on state agencies and local authorities so that ratepayers get their worth of service and good governance.
Khalid said although the FOI enactment has yet to be passed, as the mentri besar and in accordance with Section 2C of the Official Secrets Act, he has taken an early initiative to declassify some of the the state’s information.
Khalid said the current assembly sitting is expected to see several reports regarding projects started by the previous Barisan Nasional administration that should rightly benefit the rakyat but, instead, only benefited certain companies.
These are forest projects that were commercialised and several abandoned projects.
Free local elections
Khalid said the state government encourages interaction between the administration an its stakeholders, which are the people it serves, including the academicians and the non-governmental organisations.
In this respect, he said, the state government is studying a report from an NGO called the ‘Coalition for Good Governance’ that called for local government elections.
“This proposal has been forwarded to all state executive councilors.
“We believe local elections are important to make Selangor citizens choose their own representatives in their local areas and neighbourhoods,” he said.
Smaller budget for 2010
The state government proposed a budget of RM1.3bil for 2010; which is about RM700mil less than the amount allocated for this year.
Of the budget, a sum of RM709.6mil (or 54.58%) would be for administrative costs and RM590.4 (or 45.42%) will go towards development.
The state expects to collect tax revenues totalling RM460mil next year; which would be about RM2.98mil (0.64%) less than forcasted for 2009.
Khalid said the global economic downturn had affected the whole country and had caused less income for the state this year.
“However, Budget 2010 for Selangor would bring much benefit to the people with its prudent measures and safe spending,” he said.
