The Petaling Jaya MP said he had learnt that a resident had attempted to access documents related to the Selangor Intelligent Parking System (SIP) under the Freedom of Information (State of Selangor) Enactment 2011.
He said the resident was told the documents were classified under the Official Secrets Act, supposedly because their disclosure could “seriously endanger national security or defence”.
“How could a parking management contract, a document that directly affects the daily lives of the people, possibly threaten national security or defence?” he asked in a statement.
Lee said blocking public access to documents on grounds of national security was illogical and could erode public trust in the state government’s reform credentials.
He said information transparency was an essential part of good governance.
“I therefore urge the Selangor government to explain why such documents are classified as national secrets and whether there is a need to review the implementation of the Freedom of Information Enactment,” he said.
According to him, Selangor menteri besar Amirudin Shari had previously said the SIP project had not been awarded through direct negotiation, but through an open tender process.
If it was an open tender, there must be open documentation to back it up, he said.
Lee said denying access under the Freedom of Information process contradicted the openness that the state government has always promoted.
The Freedom of Information Enactment was passed 15 years ago, alongside Penang’s own such law, as a landmark reform to demonstrate a new culture of transparency and accountability.
“Fifteen years later, I must ask, does that spirit still exist or has it faded away?” he said.
Lee, along with three other MPs, had previously objected to the proposed parking system, urging the state government to review the proposal and establish an independent, bipartisan committee to reassess the scheme.
The other three were William Leong (Selayang), Wong Chen (Subang) and Azli Yusof (Shah Alam).
Today, Lee said that if the state government was sincere in building an open, credible and accountable administration, it must address this issue seriously.
“Revoke this unreasonable secrecy decision and restore the people’s right to information.”