Grave threats to transparency
Published: Jul 3, 2007 5:53 PM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 6:21 PM
Corruption watchdog Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) is "appalled" by two official decisions that it says will further erode transparency and media freedom.
Two issues serve as signs of a serious risk to standards of openness, warns the
corruption watchdog.
Corruption watchdog Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) is "appalled" by two official decisions that it says will further erode transparency and media freedom.
While seemingly unrelated, said TI-M, two issues that have been highlighted this past week underline the "grave threat" to transparency, accountability, integrity, and good governance.
On the one hand, there are the public attacks - led by Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department M Kayveas - that have been leveled against credit information provider Ctos Sdn Bhd.
Kayveas has alleged that Ctos has been buying and selling private information on some 780,000 individuals illegally and, thereby, destroying "people's lives and careers".
On the other hand, there is the government directive to private radio and television stations not to air speeches by opposition leaders.
By seeking to suppress information, the authorities are "clearly violating freedom of access to information for legitimate business purposes and to be informed on public policy issues," said TI-M president Ramon V Navaratnam in a statement today.
This freedom is not only essential for the public to make responsible and informed decisions based on fair access to information, but also for an open and transparent democracy to function meaningfully, he explained.
"TI-M requests the government not to take such measures that go against the grain of transparency and good governance," said Navaratnam.
In the case of the media directive, TI-M called for the retraction of the directive and to enable journalism to be practised ethically by presenting all viewpoints of important issues and policies.
Officials and legislators should also cease their attacks on Ctos and instead raise "concerns about the way credit and financial information is collated and disseminated" with the management, he said.
"The fact that some legislators' names are listed as defaulters surely does not justify any call to ban the service. We have to be increasingly concerned with public and national interest rather than the protection of individuals," he added.
While seemingly unrelated, said TI-M, two issues that have been highlighted this past week underline the "grave threat" to transparency, accountability, integrity, and good governance.
On the one hand, there are the public attacks - led by Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department M Kayveas - that have been leveled against credit information provider Ctos Sdn Bhd. Kayveas has alleged that Ctos has been buying and selling private information on some 780,000 individuals illegally and, thereby, destroying "people's lives and careers".
On the other hand, there is the government directive to private radio and television stations not to air speeches by opposition leaders.
By seeking to suppress information, the authorities are "clearly violating freedom of access to information for legitimate business purposes and to be informed on public policy issues," said TI-M president Ramon V Navaratnam in a statement today.
This freedom is not only essential for the public to make responsible and informed decisions based on fair access to information, but also for an open and transparent democracy to function meaningfully, he explained.
"TI-M requests the government not to take such measures that go against the grain of transparency and good governance," said Navaratnam. In the case of the media directive, TI-M called for the retraction of the directive and to enable journalism to be practised ethically by presenting all viewpoints of important issues and policies.
Officials and legislators should also cease their attacks on Ctos and instead raise "concerns about the way credit and financial information is collated and disseminated" with the management, he said.
"The fact that some legislators' names are listed as defaulters surely does not justify any call to ban the service. We have to be increasingly concerned with public and national interest rather than the protection of individuals," he added.
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