Transparency International – Malaysia and The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) are jointly organising a series of dialogues on Right to Information and its benefits to society.

It is a short programme that would discuss issues related to right to information and local experiences of how lack of information impedes good governance.

We would like to invite journalists to attend the awareness workshop which will be held:

Date:  27th May (Wed), 2009
Time:  7:30pm -10pm
Venue:  National Press Club, 84, Jalan Tangsi, 50480 Kuala Lumpur.

Participants: Media, NPC members, Bloggers

Speakers: H.R Dipendra (South East Asia Media Defence Network), Noel Dass (Center For Public Policy Studies)

Light food and refreshments will be served

Those who wish to attend, please contact Usha Devi at 012-3707787 or 03-2284 0630( Santha-TI-M secretariat) as places are limited.

A series of half day talks and awareness sessions with targeted groups. These groups will represent, among others, the business, legal, academic and civil society groups, the civil service and political parties. The purpose is to introduce the main ideas of RTI and to persuade or gain support for an RTI legislation. The structure will be a short presentation follow by discussions or Q&A. We will use the pool of trainers as speakers for this activity. It is proposed that we organise about 10 sessions over the year. TI and CIJ can coordinate the organising of the sessions together. Expected period for implementation – between May and August 2009.The first session was held on May 10 in Klang, Selangor.

Forum objectives and aims
The ultimate aim of the Forum is to generate public support for a Right to Information law.

The Forum/Dialogue will:

?    Introduce participants to the basic principles of Right to Information objective.
?    Engage participants on how Right to Information can improve local governance.
?    Promote the UN Convention on Anti-Corruption (UNCAC) and Right to Information as essential rights for a fair, transparent and accountable government.

Forum Format – Half Day Forum (Dialogue – Presentation and Q & A)

The session will begin with a presentation on the basic principles of RTI and where applicable, sharing of cases of local communities in their efforts to access public information. This will be followed by a discussion through questions and answers. Sessions that begin in the morning can end with a light lunch, while those starting later can incorporate refreshments for the forums.

Targeted Groups
Business people,
Legal people,
Academic group
Civil society groups
Civil service
Political parties

Contact
TI-M secretariat at 03-22840630 (Usha /Santha)
CIJ secretariat at 03- 40230772   (Sevan)

9am – 1pm, Tuesday, 19th May 2009

Auditorium, Petaling Jaya Civic Centre, Petaling Jaya, Selangor

“Freedom of Information: A Right to Reclaim”

World Press Freedom Day is celebrated globally on the 3rd of May each year to commemorate the importance press freedom plays in building a democratic society. Malaysia has not fared very positively in the World Press Freedom
Index by Reporters Without Borders. In the latest 2008 index, Malaysia fell eight places to 132nd place, its worst ever ranking since. In 2006, it ranked at 92nd, 2007 at 124th and 2008 132nd. Aside from press freedom,
other correlated factors that contribute to the disintegration of democracy are social, economic and political decline, corruption and political hatred – which invariably contribute to the ability of the media to exercise and
put into practice its freedom.

An extremely crucial element in promoting the culture of press freedom in any country is the concept of freedom of information. Where access to information becomes the fundamental principle, with only specific exceptions, this empowers citizens to keep governments accountable based on the information they have. The overall effect is positive, where bureaucracy is kept efficient, voters are kept informed, and reduces significantly the potential for corrupt practices.

The Selangor State Government has been proactive about promoting Freedom of Information. A Taskforce on Freedom of Information was formed in early 2009 consisting of State Assemblymen and civil society, chaired by YB Elizabeth
Wong, State Executive Councillor. The Taskforce’s first project is to study the possibility of legislating a Freedom of Information Act (FOI Act). The objective is to eventuallypass an FOI Act.

The Selangor World Press Freedom Day is held both to mark the significance of press freedom in reporting in a responsible, investigative and free manner; as well as to conduct a public consultation with a cross-section of
stakeholders in society on its intended FOI Act. Discussions and feedback will be collated and duly considered when the Bill is tabled at the Selangor State Legislative Assembly.

Programme
9.00am: Registration
9.45am: Arrival of YAB Dato’ Menteri Besar Selangor
10.00am: Keynote Address by YAB Dato’ Menteri Besar Selangor, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim
10.15am: Launch of Selangorkini Online and Selangorkini Newspaper by YAB Dato’ Menteri Besar Selangor
10.35am: Departure of YAB Dato’ Menteri Besar Selangor and Press Conference Coffee Break
10.50am: Panel Discussion & Public Consultation on Freedom of Information Bill

Chairperson: Tricia Yeoh, Research Officer to the Selangor Menteri Besar

Panelists:
YB Elizabeth Wong, State Executive Councillor and Chairperson, Taskforce on Freedom of Information Sevan Doraisamy, Program Director, Centre for Independent Journalism Dipendra Harshad Rai, Bar Council Dr. Lim Teck Ghee, Director, Centre for Policy Initiatives Mr. Ngooi Chiu Ing, Member of the Exco, Transparency International Padmaja Padman, Independent Journalist

12.30pm: Presentation of Collated Views
12.45pm: Press Conference
1.00pm: End of Selangor World
Press Freedom Day and Adjourn for Lunch