It's 'Right-to-Know' Day
The coalition comprising 26 organisations behind the Freedom of Information (FOI) campaign in Malaysia will kick off a series of activities today.
The main aim is to lobby for an antidote to the Official Secret Act (OSA) by way of drafting and ratification of an FOI Act in Malaysia.
Thus far, 68 other countries -- including Kosovo, Uzbekistan and Zimbabwe -- are now ahead of Malaysia by having enacted FOI laws since the 1990s.
Here are the activities lined up for the campaign launching organised by The National Coalition of Freedom of Information Malaysia, today:
12.30pm onwards: Leafleting at KLCC. The FOI mascot, the firefly, will be there.
8.30pm: Launch and public forum at the Bar Council Auditorium in KL. Speakers include Azmi Sharom, Ong Ju Lyn and Sonia Randhawa. The theme is "The Environmental Cost of Concealing Information" .
"Join us in our campaign to have more openness and less secrets!" the organisers say.
The cry for more openness and less secrets? There's an old pantun that goes along with this:
Bacang masak mempelam manis,
Makanan anak si bidadari;
Bintang teresak, bulan menangis,
Hendak bertemu si matahari.
theSun has the story on Page 4 today.
Comments
"You have a right to know on a need to know basis."
Posted by: balow![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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September 28, 2006 08:59 AM
'Freedom of Information' & 'Official Secret Acts' are beautiful words but the basic fact is that Malaysia cannot afford to be too open in disclosing information as some of the info could be misused by foreign powers to undermine our Nation. 'The National Coalition of Freedom of Information Malaysia' should know what is important in the interest of Malaysia. "The Environmental Cost of Concealing Information"??? What has 'Environmental Cost' got to do with information? There is just too much of empty vessels in motion at the moment trying to gain mileage over information freedom. Malaysia has done well under the current political structure & hence let our current doctrine on information prevail!
Posted by: bnaipal![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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September 30, 2006 08:12 PM