At least debate FOI draft: SRP lawmaker

Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Son Chhay has sent an amended version of his draft freedom-of-information law to the National Assembly this morning and urged the parliament to at least debate the legislation. Son Chhay said yesterday his revised law had taken into account amendments requested by parliamentary committees after the assembly declined to even debate his last version of the bill, submitted in 2010. “At least this should be looked at according to the procedures and be debated, not just rejected,” he said. The 82 articles contained within the draft legislation are aimed at curtailing government corruption by creating legal and political institutions that ensure there are systems for the public to access government documents such as contracts. “Even in parliament, they are catergorised as secret documents,” he said. “Things are becoming clear in Cambodia that there is rampant corruption, so it is important that this law is adopted as soon as possible.” …

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