The Toll of OSA
Jan 26th, 2007 by Tian
It is reported that Samy Vellu has recommended to the Cabinet on Wednesday (24 January) that action to be taken I and those who revealed the content of toll contracts.
Samy is quoted for saying:
“It is classified secret … a restricted document of the government. It has been stolen by some people and we have suggested we are going to ask the Attorney-General’s office to take appropriate action against those who stole the document and exhibited it without the authority, and they have to pay for it”.
Aiyoyo Samy, please think before you talk lah. First of all, when and why a contract which affected millions of tax-payers’ money was classified a secret document? The fact that the OSA is invoked means the document contains something the government does not want the public to know.
In the press conference on 4 January 2007, KeADILan and members of Coalition Against Toll Hike (PROTES) questioned why the Minister of Work could be so careless in signing a contract which clearly disadvantaged the tax-payers. Samy should answer this rather than hiding facts behind draconian laws.
Second, on what basis the Cabinet decided not to publish the content of all the toll concession agreements? Why shouldn’t the public have the right to know? This involved their money—both as tax payers and toll payers.
Third, Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi is overseas, and certainly did not attend the cabinet meeting. I wonder Samy Vellu and the members of Cabinet consult the view of the PM who is also the Internal Security Minister on such a crucial issue. By right, it should be the power of Internal Security Minister to whether a document is deemed an official secret.
Lastly, I would like to advise the Work Minister to stop using intimidating tactic to muzzle public discussion on toll concession. Samy should have the courage to face the public and defend the agreements signed by under his recommendation. His bullying tactic will not frighten us.
Whenever we receive information that public interest has been jeopardized, it is the responsibility all individual citizens to reveal it to the public. Waving the big stick of OSA will not intimidate us from speaking up. OSA or not OSA, Samy cannot escape the public condemnation.
Leaders of PROTES Kenaikan Tol reveal the LDP agreement in the press conference on 4 January