SHAH ALAM, Nov 10 — Selangor intends to declassify documents to expose the beneficiaries of three projects during the era of former Barisan Nasional mentri besar Datuk Seri Dr Khir Toyo.
Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said the projects which included two failed developments projects, in Bukit Cerakah and Bukit Botak as well as a reforestation project for commercial purpose.
He disclosed that he will used provisions in the Official Secrets Act (OSA) which allows ministers and mentris besar to declassify documents.
He said the abandoned Bukit Botak project was meant for the construction of homes for squatters, meanwhile the settlers who were allocated land in Bukit Cerakah were cheated by a developer.
Apart from exposing the wrongdoings, he disclosed that the move is also to highlight the need for a Freedom of Information (FOI) Enactment, which will be table in Selangor at the next sitting of the state assembly in March 2010.
However the reports on the three projects by the previous Barisan Nasional (BN) government will be made public at this sitting, which ends next Tuesday.
With the exposes, the public will see for themselves the importance of the FOI enactment because wrong doers will no longer be able to hide behind the OSA, Khalid said.
He also noted that the FOI will also provide a more transparent environment for investors and the business community.
Khalid said the draft for the enactment was ready but more time was need to ensure that it did not contradict the OSA as federal laws supersede any state enactments.
“We are of the opinion that the OSA should be only use in matters of national security,” he added.
Show/Hide comments
Show/Hide comment form
