E Contrario

Now there is another twist on the OSA issue. On 19 Febrauary, the press reported that Samy Vellu made a new turn about on toll agreements. Samy claimed that the Prime Minister has in principle agreed that highway toll agreements should be declassified. In other words, the government will no longer treat toll agreements as secret documents protected under OSA. Reporters asked me whether this move is a testimony of transparency on the part of the government.

Actually, I am more confused now. I wonder who decides the official status of the toll agreements. The PM is totally silent and Samy’s statement is full of contradictions.

First, I would like to stress that declassifying the documents is not the same as revealing the documents to the public. So far, we have not seen any of the toll agreements displayed to the public. Besides the LDP contract (which was revealed by us), the public still have no knowledge of the content of other agreements.

To show sincerity the government should publish all agreements in major newspapers and in the Ministry’s official website.

Second, the issues our anti-toll hike coalition, PROTEST raised were not only about revealing the content of the agreements.

What puzzled the public the most is that why such unfair agreements were accepted and signed by the government?

Third, I could not understand how Abdullah’s cabinet operates? Initially Abdullah was upset and called for punitive action against those who exposed the toll document. Following that, Samy claimed he acted on behalf of the cabinet and instructed the AG to investigate.

Next, four of us—Dr Hatta, Ronie Liew, Tan Sri Khalid and I—were summoned to Bukit Aman for questioning under OSA. The police raided my offices in Brickfields and Sentul. They have caused all sort nuisances to me.

Now that the toll documents are no longer official secrets, the PM and Samy Vallu owes us an apology for the hassles caused by their inconsistency.