Pakatan Learns To Use OSA ! !

Pakatan Learns To Use OSA ! !

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By Syed Akbar Ali

Well I found it hard to believe myself but that’s what the papers say. Here is the news report (in full) from today’s Star.

Tuesday April 21, 2009

Local council papers to remain under OSA

THE Selangor government has stated that it will not declassify local council documents unless there is a need for it.

According to the state local government, research and studies committee chairman Ronnie Liu, this is because matters discussed at meetings of the local councils or their committees could be sensitive and subject to misinterpretation.

He said if the meeting minutes were allowed to be declassified, those present at the meeting might not feel free to discuss issues openly.

“We will only declassify documents if there is a dispute over certain matters,” Liu said.

Liu was commenting on the recent leakage of some local council minutes in Petaling Jaya, which led to councillor Derek Fernandez saying that he would make a police report under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) against those who leaked the documents.

Certain Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) sub-committee meeting minutes, classified under the OSA, had recently been distributed to several Petaling Jaya assemblymen together with poison pen letters accusing the council of favouritism in the implementation of its billboard policy.

Kelana Jaya MP Loh Gwo Burne, however, feels that there should be transparency and the local council documents should be declassified.

“For years, we have been criticising the previous state government of keeping documents secret.

“It is time we (Pakatan Rakyat state government) do away with such practices,” Loh said.

He said only documents pertaining to matters of national security should be kept secret.

“The local councils deal with matters concerning taxpayers’ money, so it is reasonable that people should know how the money is being spent,” Loh said.

I say Ronnie, apa sudah jadi? Loh Gwo Burne does have a valid point. For years the Opposition has been strongly criticizing the BN run local councils for not being transparent over spending taxpayers funds.

Here is a good chance for the Pakatan to show an example. But if Derek Fernandez wants to make a police report under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) then apa beza sangat, Bro?

source : syedsoutsidethebox.blogspot.com