Right to Know Day around the world - Malaysia

Organizer: Center for Independent Journalism
Event: National FOIA campaign, including a mascot and leaflets
Date: September, 2006

Description: In Malaysia we will be officially launching our national campaign including a mascot (a firefly) and leaflets. We'll be doing leafletting at the KL Twin Towers, and in the evening having a forum.

So far, we've had a good amount of media coverage, including a live debate on one of the state-owned TV stations last night. One of the Opposition parties has also made a public commitment to enacting a FOI law in the state that they control.

Generally, RTI is not recognised in Malaysia, but the Government while maintaining that there is not a need for a FOIA had been making more noise about openness and transparency. IN the general area of communication rights (if not human rights more broadly!) we think this is the reform we are most likely to see in the next five years. It's an uphill struggle, but FOIAnet is proving a very useful resource - particularly as we start drafting the Bill for the state assembly.