STATE exco for Works, Utilities and Transport Lim Hock Seng said Penang Gerakan Youth leader Jason Loo was not allowed access to government documents under the state’s Freedom Of Information (FOI) Enactment 2010 because he declined to sign the requisite statutory declaration (SD).
He added that Loo would not be refunded the RM500 he paid to apply for access to the documents pertaining to the planned undersea tunnel and three paired roads.
Lim said Loo would have been allowed to see the documents if he had signed a sworn statement.
“The SD is vital so that the state government’s documents would not fall into wrong hands or a third party for the purpose of commercialisation,” Lim told a press conference at Komtar on June 17.
Also present was State Secretary Datuk Seri Farizan Darus.
On June 16, Loo cried foul that he could not secure the documents although he had fulfilled all conditions under the enactment except signing the SD.
He accused the state government of practising double standards by allowing an Umno minister to view the documents for free but not him.
Meanwhile, Farizan said documents obtained through FOI could not be reproduced for other parties.
“The documents belong to the state and can only be viewed.
“If they are allowed to be reproduced, some quarters might interpret them wrongly.
“We do not wish people to be confused. That’s why we have that particular clause,” he added.
Commenting on Barisan Nasional strategic communication director Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan being invited to view the documents without having to sign the SD, Lim said he would give the same treatment for Gerakan president
Datuk Mah Siew Keong.
“However, they are only allowed to vet through documents which are not bound by the FOI Enactment,” he
said.
Lim stressed he had clarified matters on the undersea tunnel and three paired roads via four press statements, including a breakdown of the RM305 million for the feasibility study and detailed design report for the three roads.
Statutory declaration is vital
