Chong wants to table Sarawak Freedom of Information Bill at the coming State Assembly sitting

KUCHING, Oct 24, 2014: Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen has notified the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly of his intention to apply for leave for him to table a Private Member's Bill on Sarawak Freedom of Information at next month's sitting.

He submitted the notice today to the state assembly's secretary. The state assembly, which sits for eight days from Nov 10, will decide whether to grant him the leave.

In his notice, Chong, who is also the State Assemblyman for Kota Sentosa, expressed hope that the state assembly would grant him the leave to enable him to table the Bill.

He said that for decades many of the award of government contracts, approval of projects, alienation of State lands and issuance of logging licenses have been done in a very opaque manner and the public is kept in the dark about these processes.

"This has resulted in massive transfer of State’s wealth to the few connected ones in the State and further entrenched the public perception of rampant cronyism and corruption in the Sarawak State Government’s administration," he claimed.

Chong said that the new Chief Minister Adenan Satem has on many occasions made clear that he wishes to establish transparent, fair and clean governance in the State’s Administration

He added that public access to information will enhance public scrutiny of the process of governance and help reduce cronyism and corruption and it is an essential element for transparent, fair and clean governance.

For better protection of public interests and rights and the way towards a truly transparent, fair and clean governance, he hoped that leave be granted by the House to enable him to introduce the Sarawak Freedom of Information Ordinance 2014.

 He said that the purposes of the Ordinance are to enhance disclosure of information for the public interest, provide to every individual a reasonable right of access to information made by every department of the State Government and promote transparency and accountability for each department in the State Government.