Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said says the Attorney-General's Chambers is seeking a revision of the Official Secrets Act 1972, citing unfettered spread of information throughout the world. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, March 9, 2016. The Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) wants penalties under the Official Secrets Act 1972 (OSA) revised in light of the unfettered spread of information throughout the world, said Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
But she said in a written parliamentary reply yesterday that any proposed amendments to the act would rest on the executive.
"The AGC will take further action after a policy decision is made by the executive," wrote Azalina, a minister in the prime minister's department.
"Usually, provisions in a law are reviewed after a certain period of time.
"In this matter, the AGC is of the view that it is time punishments under the OSA are reviewed in line with the current trend of information spreading unrestricted in the world, as well as the frequent leak of government secrets."
She said this in response to Kuala Selangor MP Datuk Irmohizam Ibrahim's question on the status of the OSA revision, and when it was expected to be tabled in Parliament.
Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali told Sinchew Daily in an exclusive interview last month that he was mulling imposing heavier punishment on those who leaked official secrets.
He told the Chinese-language paper AGC was considering life imprisonment and 10 strokes of the cane as punishments.
Apandi added the charges extended to journalists found protecting or refusing to disclose their sources.
His proposed amendments have been met with heavy criticism from civil society groups and the opposition, who claim it is only an attempt to punish whistleblowers.
Joining in the criticism, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Paul Low said the proposed punishment of life imprisonment was excessive, while former A-G Tan Sri Abu Talib Othman said it was disproportionate. – March 9, 2016.
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