The Penang Freedom of Information Appeals Board has ordered the state secretary’s office to make public the agreement for the Jelutong landfill rehabilitation and reclamation project.
The board ruled that the authorities failed to show how disclosing the agreement would harm the state. The decision came after an appeal by Protect Karpal chief AD Chandrasekaran, who sought a copy of the joint development agreement involving the Penang government, Penang Development Corporation and PLB Engineering Sdn Bhd.
The agreement covers rehabilitation of the former landfill and reclamation works for a mixed development project in Section 8, Bandar Jelutong. Chandrasekaran had earlier been rejected by the state secretary’s office, which argued that disclosure would damage Penang’s economic interests and cited confidentiality clauses.
Chandrasekaran maintained the deal should be public because it involves government land, public funds and a project of public interest.
Appeals board chairman K Kumaraendran said the authorities could not rely on broad claims of economic harm without demonstrating how the state would actually be affected.
“The information officer could not satisfactorily answer how the state would suffer if the agreement was disclosed,” Kumaraendran told FMT.
The three-member panel, also comprising deputy chairman K Simon Murali and R Nagarethinam Pillay, found Chandrasekaran’s appeal justified and ordered that the full agreement be released.
Source: Free Malaysia Today
