SHAH ALAM: The Selangor state government has become the first state to pass the Freedom of Information Enactment Bill (Selangor) 2010 which would also cover local council and government-owned entities.

The Bill was passed on Friday, April 1 at the Selangor State Assembly, about eight months after it was tabled on July14, 2010.

Some of the recommendations adopted include allowing local councils and government-owned entities to be covered under the Enactment; changing the Appeals Board into the State Information Board; adding the penalties to include obstruction to access to information.

To recap, the Bill was sent to the Select Committee on Freedom of Information Enactment (Selangor) 2010 and this was also the first time the Selangor State Assembly formed a Select Committee to examine a Bill.

State executive councillor Elizabeth Wong said described “the effort to table the Enactment Bill is due to the brave voters who voted for Pakatan Rakyat on March 8, 2008.”

Speaking on behalf of the executive council in the state assembly, she said “this is also a product of the people of Selangor who desire transparency and openness in the administration of governments.”

Wong said Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim had mooted the the idea five years ago and promised the non-governmental organizations to make freedom of information the first reform legislation to be passed, once given the mandate to form any government.

“In nine months. NGOs, members of the public and civil servants had given their feedback and suggestions to improve the Enactment Bill so that it can be used,”

“As such, the Selangor State Government has taken those suggestions seriously and is of the opinion they are crucial for realisation of effective implementation.”

Wong said there were still certain limitations to the jurisdiction of the State Government and that it had sort to avoid having the Enactment declared ultra-vires to the Federal Constitution.

“However, this is a dynamic, living legislation and the House can continue to suggest further improvements to the Enactment from time to time.”

Wongs said the Barisan Nasional representatives in the Select Committee from Tanjung Sepat and Kuang failed to attend even a single meeting or public inquiry.

“Barisan Nasional has lost the golden opportunity to create history with Selangor people,” she said. “This is only the beginning of our journey, to introduce a culture of openness and transparency in public administration.”

The other members of the Select Committee are Saari Sungib (Hulu Kelang), who is the chairman, Nik Nazmi in Nik Ahmad (Seri Setia), Amiruddin Shari (Batu Caves), Hannah Yeoh (Subang Jaya) and Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi (Sijangkang).