Malaysians urged to build a better future

Malaysians are urged to fulfill their responsibility in building a better future for the coming generations and place the country in its rightful position.

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak made this call today in his 2011 New Year message, explaining that the government cannot be successful in its efforts to spur development in the country without the peoples' cooperation.

"Let’s not be satisfied and just sit back to be mere critics. Let’s mould a better future for the coming generations," Mr. Najib was quoted by state-run news agency Bernama.

Mr. Najib has been linked to controversies, including the questionable deals for the purchase of two Scorpene submarines and 18 Sukhoi fighter jets in 2008. 

Malaysia was seen plunging down to a lowest corruption rating in 2010, according to a Transparency International report, with an index score of 4.4. The country ranks at 56 out of 178 countries rated.

“Learning from mistakes, throughout 2010, we built a strong foundation to ensure that the nation’s potentials and resources can be stimulated and mobilised towards achieving the national vision,” he said.

He identified the Government Transformation Programme (GTP) along with the six National Key Result Areas (NKRA) and the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) with the 12 National Key Economic Areas (NKEA) as the basis of the New Economic Model, the 10th Malaysia Plan and Budget 2011, which served as a comprehensive roadmap to raise the living standard and quality of life of the people to a higher level.

The prime minister also took a swipe on the opposition for criticising the construction of several projects including the North-South Expressway, the Petronas Twin Towers and the Penang Bridge. He said they were now too embarrassed to admit their mistake because these projects had brought much benefit to the people.

“The question is if their opinions have proven to be wrong in such major matters, how can the people possibly trust any of their promises?” he said.

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Philippine freedom of information bill facing discreet opponents in Congress

The House of Representatives is poised to pass the long-awaited Freedom of Information Act despite some contentious issues that attempt to block it in the 15^th Congress, a lawmaker said Thursday.

Deputy Speaker and Quezon Province Rep. Lorenzo R. Tañada said twelve bills have been filed in Congress where majority of it are based on the bicameral conference version of the previous congress.

He said some lawmakers have been very discreet on their stand that they are not revealing their position “because it would be a political suicide.”

“Many are disguising that they are supporting freedom of information,” Tañada, chair of the House Committee on Public Information, told reporters at the Ateneo de Davao University on Thursday afternoon.

There are four remaining contentious issues, according to Tañada, where three of which come from Malacañang.

“Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Sonny Coloma argues in his position paper that the smooth exercise of government functions can be put at risk if information currently being used by government agencies for decision-making or project management are subjected to access requests at every step of the way. Also, providing access to transcripts and minutes of official meetings may diminish candid and open discussions by public officers. In addition, I have also heard various feedback that Malacañang has apprehensions over safeguards on state security,” he said.

A “reproduction” of the previous Congress’ bill has been filed by Davao 1^st district Rep. Karlo Alexei B. Nograles. But he added a provision that would only make legal to get information from government during the passage of the bill and during the incumbency of the President “at the time the request for information has been made.”

Nograles’ bill has been protested by a coalition called “Right to Know, Right Now” and has gathered signatures to coerce the congressman to defeat the bill which they said could compromise public interest.

“The non-retroactivity provision in Nograles’ bill is an unreasonable limitation of the right to information,” said Atty. Nepomuceno Malauan, lead convenor of the coalition.

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