GEORGE TOWN, May 23 – Penang will implement the Freedom of Information Act (2012) in July, following the state assembly’s approval for the appointment of members to an Appeals Board for requests made under the law.
The appeals board, consisting of members from various state government agencies and departments, will allow an appeal process for those whose applications for information from any of the state agencies and departments are rejected.
“Without the appointment of this board, will disrupt the flow of the application for information by the public especially when the application was rejected,” Ramasamy said when proposing the motion.
The motion was proposed by Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Prof P. Ramasamy and approved without debate or any objections.
The FOIA was passed by the state legislative assembly on November 4, 2011 and it was gazetted on February 2, 2012.
The motion to appoint the Appeals Board members was to allow for the implementation of the law this July.
The FOIA is one of the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) state government’s election pledge to allow for transparency and freedom of information during the 2008 general elections.
With the implementation of the FOIA, the public may seek for information from any state government agencies and departments.
