00:00What is the proposed Freedom of Information Act, and will it help you get government information?
00:08Under the government's proposed FOI Act, Malaysians can ask for information held by federal public bodies.
00:16Many countries as well as Malaysian states, such as Penang and Selangor, already have such a law.
00:23But critics and civil society groups say the federal bill does not go far enough.
00:28They claim the proposed law will exempt a broad range of information, including information protected under the Official Secrets Act,
00:37and that relating to law enforcement and agencies.
00:41They also say the proposed law does not grant Malaysians a right to information, and that its penalties could deter
00:48people from using information they have obtained.
00:51But how easy will it be to request this information in the first place?
00:56The bill sets out how you can apply for access to information, and how federal public bodies are supposed to
01:04handle those requests.
01:06But it does not apply to state governments or bodies established under state law.
01:10A public authority can refuse a request if the information is exempted, already publicly available, does not exist, or is
01:21not under its control, or contains the personal information of a third party.
01:26It can also refuse a request considered unreasonable or if the same request is made again within six months of
01:34an earlier rejection.
01:35But applicants can't always appeal.
01:38In Penang, where there is already an FOI law, residents have used it to obtain information to help them challenge
01:45decisions made by public authorities.
01:47But obtaining that information does not necessarily mean that the authority will reverse its decision.
01:53The federal bill has now been referred to a parliamentary special select committee for further scrutiny, which means its provisions
02:02could still change.
02:04So will the bill be overhauled, and will the final version give Malaysians meaningful access to government information?
02:12Penang, where the bill can go, and can apply for universal support in multiple forms of other forms.
02:16The bill doesn't speak to people who are in atau or expression.
02:19If the bill ever leicht is thing to�istant, you can get will be more valuable, then the bill goes to
02:19marine learn to catalyze another one of their own.
02:22The bill is all for saving in this world.
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