Selangor plans to declassify hazardous map

SHAH ALAM: The Selangor state government is looking at the possibility of declassifying another classified document, the Hazardous Map which indicates the level of risk in residential areas in Hulu Klang.

The study on the level of risk in residential areas including on hill slopes was done by specialists appointed by the federal government, Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim told the media during the Quality Day of the Selangor state government, here yesterday.

“The Hazardous Map will tell the people whether the area they are staying in carries a high, medium or low risk based on the current situation so that they are aware (of the danger) and prepare for it,” he said.

If the document could be declassified, the state would then have discussions with the residents regarding the level of risk that they would face, including those residing in hilly areas, he said.

Abdul Khalid said: “If we know the area is hilly, and assuming we classify the information on that area as confidential, we are not going to be fair to the community there. So, this is the issue, we have to balance (between) the social need and administrative decision.” 

Last month, the state executive council decided to declassify the report on the landslide at Bukit Antarabangsa but the information could still not be released to the public.

The state government had made a written request to the federal government to allow it to release the document to the public but the federal government had yet to respond to the request.

The menteri besar declassified the document which was prepared by the Public Works Department under the Works Ministry using Section 2C of the Official Secrets Act 1972.

It was previously reported that Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong had said that the menteri besar’s power to declassify the document was not absolute and only the person who classified the document could declassify it. — Bernama