Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy said this measure was not “set in stone” and the Penang Government was open to improvements to the enactment.

“The statutory declaration (SD) is to prevent those requesting the information not to amend, edit or duplicate classified documents.

“The SD is only required for materials that have been declassified. It is not a requirement for all documents. This will be reviewed from time to time.

“However, some documents that are classified as ‘open’ do not require a SD to be signed,” said the state FOI chair.

Ramasamy stressed he was willing to listen to constructive criticisms and complaints on the FOI and reiterated the SD requirement was not a permanent one.

On Tuesday, state Gerakan Youth chief Jason Loo claimed he was made to sign non-disclosure documents pertaining to two government land sales.

He said the move was counter-productive in making information public.

Under the Penang FOI enactment, information has to be supplied within 14 days from application.

The enactment was passed by the state legislative assembly on Nov 4, 2011 and it was gazetted on Feb 2, 2012.

The FOI was one of the state government’s pledges in the 2008 General Election to allow for greater transparency and freedom of information.