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Transparency
International-Malaysia (TI-M) Calls for transparency in water
concession agreements.
18th
Jan 2007 by Tan
Sri (Dr) Ramon V. Navaratnam
TI-M
notes with concern statement by the Energy, Water & Communication
Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik that the water concession
agreement and the audited accounts of Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor
(SYABAS) are classified under the Official Secrets Act and may not be
made public except with the Cabinet’s approval.
The
classification of such information as “official secrets” seems to
go counter to principles of transparency, accountability and good
governance. These concessions pertain to issues that are of vital
public interests with direct impacts on public funds and taxpayers’
and consumers’ interests.
TI
calls upon the Government to explain why such information is
considered “official secret” and the justifications that support
such a decision.
In
the interests of transparency, good governance and accountability, TI
Malaysia calls upon the Government to urgently review the matter and
consider releasing important documents such as these to public
scrutiny and evaluation.
The
Government must be committed to promote transparency and
accountability in our public procurement system and these include
privatization and concessionaire agreements.
The
commitment must be practiced
across the board, without exception.
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