SELCAT: 163 FOI applications accepted, 5 declined

SHAH ALAM, 27 Jan: A total of 163 applications have been received since 2013 to obtain information to use the Freedom of Information (FOI) Enactment, with only five being declined.

The State Government Secretary, Datuk Mohammed Khusrin Munawi, said that announcements and explanations must be done to create awareness to the public about the enactment.

He said that 41 information officers are involved in the task to disseminate information with the courses and training given to them.

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“The important thing is that awareness about freedom of information is still lacking. The response from the public is still lacking.

“So far, a total of RM246,000 has been spent for the allowances paid to the information officers,” he said.

Mohammed Khusrin said this during the public hearing of the Selangor Select Committee on Competency, Accountability and Transparency (SELCAT) on the Freedom of Information (Selangor) Enactment 2011 today.

He rejected claims that the state government has failed to channel information to the public within the prescribed period.

Instead, he said that the delay or failure to do so is due to not receiving the necessary information from certain parties.

“We did not answer about the DASH project to the relevant parties within 30 days because an answer was not received.

“Similarly with the water issue when a late response was received, including from the minister,” he said.

He said that early answers are given when applications received to obtain information are ‘in action’.

NS


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