NGOs, activists renew calls for an independent information commission
A group of NGOs and activists have renewed calls for the establishment of an independent information commission through the enactment of the Freedom of Information Act.
The group said the establishment of such a commission, which reports directly to Parliament, would form the backbone of a strong framework that upholds the right to information.
“It must act as a watchdog to ensure that the public’s right to know is upheld and that public bodies cannot arbitrarily deny access to information,” it said in a statement.
Signatories to the statement comprise more than 50 organisations, including the Centre for Independent Journalism, Article 19, Sinar Project, SIS Forum (Malaysia), the North South Initiative, along with over 20 activists and individuals.
The group stressed that the commission, whose functions and powers are vital to make the right to information…
