July 15, 2020 (PN)
In response to Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador’s reported remarks in the media today that warned police officers and staff not to reveal or share investigation reports to the public or post them on social media, or risk being investigated under the Official Secrets Act 1972 (OSA). He also said that it is an offense for victims to leak police reports online.
CIJ, Malaysia’s freedom of expression watchdog, is concerned that the OSA continues to be used by the State and its apparatus. The reform agenda that CIJ advocates for demands that the OSA be repealed in the interest of maximum disclosure of information held by public bodies, and for the OSA to be replaced with a new Right to Information (RTI) legislation. We call for this to be done with no further delays.
Access to information allows for the public to be able to form opinions about issues that affect us, including holding the government and its related bodies and officials accountable for their decisions or actions that affect the general public. The RTI also promotes constructive participation in any debate or discussions related to specific decision-making processes and/or of public interest and strengthens rule of law, which is expected of a democratic State such as ours.
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