THOSE in power must be held accountable for their actions and decisions, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said.

He also said the government must be transparent when it comes to decision-making.

“Shady dealings and dodgy decisions cannot go on in the name of the Official Secrets Act,” he said in his address at the 2023 Asean Law Association General Assembly and Asean Law Conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

Anwar said the rule of law warrants that government power be used in accordance with the law.

“Law must be fair and just, and that all must have access to the hallowed halls of justice, ” he said.

Last month, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) agreed in principle to enact a Freedom of Information Act.

The act will involve clear parameters and guidelines to grant the public access to obtain information from the government and other public agencies or companies.

“In line with this decision, the Official Secrets Act will also be amended accordingly,” the PMO said.

Yesterday, the government also declassified the forensics report on the Batang Kali landslide, which occurred last December and claimed the lives of 31 people, including 13 children, and injured 61 others.

Prior to that, the government had also declassified several vital reports including that on the 1976 plane crash, known as the “Double Six tragedy”.

The declassification of both reports, however, has left the families of victims of both tragedies dissatisfied with the lack of answers and accountability. – October 19, 2023.