OSA will go but some provisions will stay in Freedom of Information Act

Law Minister Liew Vui Keong (above) says the Official Secrets Act 1972 (OSA) will go, but that some of its provisions are set to be retained in the Freedom of Information Act.

He said this to clarify the statement by deputy minister Hanipa Maidin, who told the Dewan Rakyat on Nov 7 that the government was still considering whether to abolish the Official Secrets Act 1972 (OSA), improve it or to retain it, together with the proposed Freedom of Information (FoL) Act.

"This is not in line with the decision of the Cabinet," said Liew, referring to Hanipa's earlier statement.

"We may have to retain some provisions of the OSA (in the FoL Act).

"Like it or not, in (matters) related especially to defence and security, some information cannot be disclosed to the public," he added.

Liew was speaking to media on the sidelines of the National Stakeholders Consultation on the Right to Information in Putrajaya today. 

On July 18, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the Freedom of Information Act would be drawn up to replace the OSA, and a special Cabinet Committee on Anti-Corruption had agreed in principle that sufficient time must be given to the process of drawing up the law.

Hanipa, in his parliamentary reply on Nov 7, had said that he had no problems with the OSA, but that the previous government had misused it.

"Previously, the OSA was used to protect cruelty, abuse of power, and not to protect confidential information," he said then.

In his speech to officiat the event today, Liew said laws should not be used to "hide stolen assets or money trails". 

He said the government is actively engaging with stakeholders in its bid to replace the OSA with the Freedom of Information Act.

This is in accordance with Pakatan Harapan's 14th general election manifesto.  - Mkini