Workshop on Freedom of Information and Media Role in Improving Governance, Transparency and Accountability in Malaysia
Transparency International Malaysia, in association with the Swedish Embassy, and the Centre for Independent Journalism, will be organising a two-day workshop on "Freedom of Information and media role in improving governance, transparency and accountability in Malaysia".
Date: October 9 and 10, 2008
Venue: PJ Hilton Hotel, Petaling Jaya
Contact person:
Theresa Stanslas aka Pooja Executive Officer Transparency International Malaysia B-11-6 Level 11 Wisma Pantai Plaza Pantai, off Jalan Pantai Baru 59200 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Tel: +603 2284 0630 Mobile: (6) 019 5755406
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INTRODUCTION
One of the most effective tools in the fight against corruption is freedom of information – the public’s right to request and receive information from the government. Freedom of information is a long established principle of international law and has been heralded by the UN General Assembly as “a fundamental human right and a touchstone of all freedoms to the United Nations is consecrated???. By holding the government to account for their decision-making processes and public expenditures, freedom of information can increase government transparency and reduce any gaps that exist between official and public knowledge.
Information is the prerequisite for effective civil society participation and monitoring of government activities. Free access to information enables law-enforcement agencies, citizens, and the media to uncover cases of corruption and maladministration. More importantly, however, the transparency herewith achieved acts as a deterrent to bad governance as the risk of detection of illicit or otherwise questionable practices increases. Freedom of information is thus an essential element of sustainable corruption control.
Freedom of information is often said to encompass three main elements; the public’s right to request information, the government’s corresponding duty to provide the information requested and an obligation on the authorities to proactively publish information of public interest at regular intervals. Although exemptions to disclosures will exist, they should be subject to the overriding principle that all information should be disclosed, unless the harm caused by disclosure is greater than the public interest in accessing information. The information should be accessible in a user-friendly, cheap, quick and simple way and the government should be required to conduct ongoing training for government officials and educate the public on the right to information.
Workshop objectives and aims The ultimate aim of the workshop is to find out how freedom of information can contribute to greater anti-corruption efforts and achieve zero tolerance of corruption in Malaysia.
The workshop will: ? Discuss how freedom of Information can contribute to greater democratisation, transparency and accountability. ? Compare best practices with a case study of Swedish freedom of information ? Provide an overview of the role of the media in Malaysia, an assessment of the real situation and prevailing problems besetting the media and its practitioners and challenges in terms of freedom of information
The workshop topics would cover all the above. Titles and possible speakers/organizations.
a) FOI and how it can fight corruption and promote accountability – a case study of Sweden – Claes Sandgren, an academic from the University of Stockholm (Workshop A)
b) Freedom of Information and accountability in the Malaysian context – Malik Imtiaz (Workshop A)
c) Principles of FOI legislation and Draft FOI – Gayathri Venketiswaran from Centre For Independent Journalism (Workshop C)
d) Investigative journalism and its effects on corruption in Sweden – experienced investigative journalist Anders R. Olsson from Sweden (Workshop B)
e) Investigative journalism in Malaysia– Nadeswaran from The Sun (Workshop B)
(Workshop C)
f) Impact of government policies on FOI and how that can be overcome – Harris Ibrahim from People’s Parliament (Workshop C)
g) A case study of Sweden- how is Freedom of Information implemented by the Swedish public administration - Kjell Swanström, Head of Staff of the Parliamentary Ombudman’s Office in Sweden (Workshop C)
The workshop would also be divided into working groups to discuss ? How FOI can improve accountability in Malaysia (Workshop A) ? How media can take advantage of freedom of information for investigative journalism to check on public decisions and expenditure(Workshop B) ? How can access to official documents be improved - a civil servant’s perspective (Workshop C)
The workshop is designed to have the following outcomes: ? Clear analysis on freedom of Information in Malaysia and the principle of transparency and openness related to it ? In the case of Malaysian media pertaining to freedom of information, what particular problems (if any) that need to be addressed and how ? Obtain updated information on the status of Malaysian policy on FOI ? The impact of present government policies on FOI in Malaysia ? Establish collaboration/partnership/contact and cooperative links with the other participants to address FOI in a more efficient way.
Programme: 9-10th October 2008 The two-day workshop is divided into two parts. The first part is mainly reserved for presentations on selected topics and the second part will focus on identifying important issues based on the presentations which will dovetail with the workshop objectives.
9th Morning: Presentations on above mentioned topics
10th Morning: Working group discussions– it will be divided into 6 groups
10th Afternoon: Group presentations, followed by a summing-up session.
The workshop will be organised and facilitated by TI M secretariat staff. It will be quite informal and provide plenty of opportunities for discussions and exchange of experiences during plenary session and various group sessions
Workshop Format ? Facilitated working group discussions on day II after the background papers have been presented on day I. There will be a moderator for each group/team. ? Second day afternoon – Representatives from each group will present their findings. TIM will collate and publish the findings in a form of report for the participants and used as a basis for advocacy.
There will be a chief facilitator and a facilitator for each group as well as a minute-taker.
The workshop will be jointly organized by Transparency International and the Swedish Embassy, and supported by the Centre for Independent Journalism.
CPI joins in the call for the rescinding of the ban on the two books and for all civil society organizations and Malaysians to speak out and stand up against the Government's continued attempts to restrict our freedom of information.
Dr. Lim Teck Ghee
INVITATION TO ATTEND SIS PRESS CONFERENCE ON 19 AUGUST 2008 (TUESDAY) at 10.30 AM*
17 August 2008
Dear Friends,
Sisters in Islam would like to invite all friends, academicians and supporters to attend our press conference. It will be a platform for you to express your views on the book banning and its effect on the freedom of information.
On 14 August 2008, Bernama and other media organisation announced that the Ministry of Home Affairs had banned two books, namely, "Pelik Tapi Benar Dalam Solat", by Ustaz Abdul Rahman Mohamed, published by Telaga Biru Sdn Bhd, and another titled as, "Muslim Women and the Challenge of Islamic Extremism" by Norani Othman and published by Sisters in Islam, Petaling Jaya dan printed by Vinlin Press Bandar Baru Seri Petaling.
It was announced by the Publications and Quranic Texts Control Division principal assistant secretary Abdul Razak Abdul Latif who said the book was banned for containing twisted facts on Islam that could undermine the faith of Muslims. It came with a prohibition order under Section 7(1) of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 and if any individuals found to be in possession, do reprints, or distribute the publications will be jailed not more than three years or fine not more than RM 20,000 or both.
Sisters in Islam is deeply concerned with the allegations made against the publications and the fact that there was no communication prior to the media announcement. SIS hopes that the press conference will help to explain to the public on the contents of the publication. As part of our commitment towards freedom of information, SIS is also taking this opportunity to announce our campaign.
The details are as follows:
Date: 19 August 2008 (Tuesday)
Time: 10.30 a.m. – 12.30 p.m.
Venue: Amada Hotel, Petaling Jaya (nearest LRT – Asia Jaya)*
Teresa Kok, Selangor State Exco Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, Bar Council President Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh, Chairman of Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA (GMI) Lim Guan Eng, Penang Chief Minister Khalid Samad, MP Shah Alam Nurul Izzah Anwar, MP Lembah Pantai A. Sivanesan, ADUN Sungkai
MALAYAN CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS' COUNCIL (MCSC) SYMPOSIUM
Theme: MISSION SCHOOLS – MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE NATION Date: Saturday, 16 August 2008 Venue: Methodist College Kuala Lumpur, Off Jalan Tun Sambanthan 4, Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur
Programme
Time
8.30 – 9.00 am Registration 9.00 – 9.10 a.m. Welcome Opening Prayer by Bishop Ng Moon Hing 9.10 – 9.30 am Mission Schools – Current Status and Issues by Ms Yin Kam Yoke, Hon. Secretary, MCSC 9.30 – 10.30 am FORUM Part 1 MISSION SCHOOLS – MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE NATION Moderator: Mrs Gloriosa Rajendran Dr Lim Teck Ghee Dr Patricia Martinez Mr Goh Keat Seng 10.30 – 11.00 Tea Break 11.00 – 12.00 Forum Part 2 12.00 – 12.30 Launch of Promotional Resource "Teaching As A Vocation And Mission" 12.30 – 1.30 Lunch 1.30 – 3.00 Parallel Sessions – 7 groups 3.00 – 4.00 Plenary Chairman: Mr A.R. Peter 4.00 – 4.20 Closing Address by YB Ir Dr Wee Ka Siong, Deputy Minister of Education 4.20 – 4.30 Closing Thoughts and Prayer by Mr Yap Kok Keong, Chairman, MCSC 4.30 – 5.00 Tea
