PETALING JAYA: The Centre for Independent Journalism today demanded an explanation from the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) over its ban on reporters from a public hearing this morning on the council’s draft local plan 2021-2035.
In a statement today, its executive director, Wathshlah G Naidu, said it was vital for MBSA to provide clear justification on why it was restricting disclosure of information related to the public hearing.
She said preventing the media from reporting was tantamount to MBSA not being transparent in the disclosure of information on a matter of great public interest.
“Access to hearing and reporting matters of public interest is fundamental for the media to function without unnecessary and disproportionate restrictions. This challenges media freedom and impacts the public’s right to information.
“It further impacts the larger public’s ability to constructively participate in any debate or discussions related to the decision-making processes on the Shah Alam community forest.
“How are we then to hold MBSA and the related state agencies accountable for their decisions and actions which will ultimately affect the general public?”
The media group said MBSA’s action contravened the Freedom of Information (State of Selangor) Enactment 2011 which is meant to “enhance disclosure of information for the public interest, to provide every individual a reasonable right of access to information made by every department of the state government and to promote transparency and accountability for each department in the state government”.
She added that the city council must do better in upholding the freedom for the media to report on any public hearing as a means of ensuring transparency and enhancing participatory democracy and good governance.
Earlier today, MBSA had barred reporters from covering a public hearing on objections to the development and land use of the Shah Alam community forest.
Today’s hearing was held at Wisma MBSA and although it was touted as a “public hearing”, council officers said it was not open for media coverage.
Separately, the Shah Alam Community Forest (SACF) Society, a non-governmental organisation dedicated to the conservation of the forest, said the public hearing today was concluded with no decision reached on the development of the forest.
“No one from the authorities could give a definite answer on whether the Shah Alam community forest has been legally degazetted.
“The hearing concluded with Ng Sze Han (Selangor executive councillor) saying that MBSA will carry out an in-depth investigation into the legal status of the forest,” SACF founder Alicia Teoh said in a statement.
Source: Free Malaysia Today
