SHAH ALAM: The tabling of the Freedom of Information (Selangor) Enactment 2010 (FOI), however, was not greeted with the same enthusiasm from the opposition members of the Selangor state assembly.

According to Sulaiman Razak (Permatang-BN), the new enactment should be turned down as the law had overstepped state powers and contravened certain laws in the Federal Constitution.

“This enactment has encroached into the Federal Government jurisdiction,” said Sulaiman during the Second Reading of the FOI on Wednesday, July 14.

“The right to pass laws concerning information or government secrets lies with the Parliament or Federal Government. Issues pertaining information is placed under the Ninth Schedule of the Federal Constitution and hence the power to pass laws on government secrets lie with the Parliament,” he explained.

According to Sulaiman, the list on items under the state jurisdiction, as contained in the Federal Constitution on Federal-State Relations does not include information.

“Community welfare, scholarships, protection of wildlife, husbandry, town planning, public health, mining, prevention of fire, culture and sports, housing and supply of water are among the items included under the state purview.

“There is nothing to say that government information comes under the state’s jurisdiction,” said Sulaiman.