Gov't is amending OSA, says Liew

The government is amending the controversial Official Secrets Act 1972 (OSA) and will table the amendments in the Dewan Rakyat, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Liew Vui Keong said.

"The government, via the Chief Government Security Office (CGSO) together with the cooperation of a few ministries, departments and relevant agencies, are reviewing and studying the amendments needed in the OSA," he said in a parliamentary written reply dated Aug 7.

This is to streamline its existing provisions to curb cyber threats as well as emerging and existing threats, the de facto law minister told Ahmad Faizal Azumu (Harapan-Tambun).

"The bill is expected to be tabled in Parliament after it is approved by the cabinet," he said.

Ahmad Faizal, who is the Perak menteri besar, asked if the government planned to amend the OSA to prevent it from being abused while ensuring only classified information regarding the country was being protected.

The previous administration was slammed for using the OSA indiscriminately including classifying the auditor general's report on the 1MDB affair as secret.

Former PKR Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli in court was sentenced to 18 months' jail sentence for exposing documents under the auditor general's report on 1MDB but this was later converted to a two-year good behaviour bond after the new government came to power. - Mkini