Pakatan MPs want review of OSA

Pakatan MPs want review of OSA

KUALA LUMPUR, Apr 24 (ES) - Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi who had indicated initiatives for reforms following the severe loss suffered by the coalition he headed now has one more longstanding issue that needs review namely the Official Secrets Act (OSA).

A People's Alliance front (PAKATAN) parliamentary member Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said the OSA is a hindrance to the concept of transparency and accountability, - two concepts propounded by the front.

"(Without the OSA) we could have a concept of transparency (in place) and the society could evaluate how we (the government) are implementing efforts to reduce mismanagement," he said.

Abdul Khalid who is also Selangor Menteri Besar told this to journalists when asked to comment on the "integrity programme" by Abdullah for the ruling coalition parliamentary members April 23.

The ruling coalition has 140 seats in the 222 parliamentary house after the general election last month. The house is expected to convene next week.

Rustam: Voice of the downtrodden

Earlier, Abdul Khalid took part in the prayer for the late author, blogger and social activist Rustam A. Sani who passed away early this yesterday. Abdul Khalid said he met Rustam last after the recent general election.

"We were colleagues at the Institute of Strategic Studies and he always gave his views on how the downtrodden should be helped," Abdul Khalid said of Rustam.

Others present at residence of the late Rustam included Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS) secretary general Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar, women's chief Nuridah Salleh and Youth chief Salahudin Ayub.

The son of celebrated Malay nationalist leader Ahmad Boestamam, the Tanjung Malim-born Rustam was formerly the deputy president of Parti Rakyat Malaysia, which have since merged with the Parti Keadilan Nasional to form the KeADILan. – Saadon Aksah/ES