Summary
- Zaid Ibrahim says journalists may lack access to key facts when investigating public projects.
- Confidential contracts and procurement processes can make independent scrutiny difficult.
- He says reliance on secondary information may increase legal risks.
- Zaid urges journalists to scrutinise approving authorities, not only contractors or developers.
KUALA LUMPUR, August 20 — Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim has warned that limited access to government contracts and procurement information can expose journalists investigating alleged wrongdoing to legal risks.
His remarks followed a RM100 million lawsuit filed by MRCB and executive vice-chairman Salim Fateh Din against journalist P. Gunasegaram over an article concerning the LRT3 project.
Zaid said journalists may not have access to contract terms or explanations for delays and cost overruns, leaving them dependent on circumstantial or secondary information.
He argued that scrutiny should focus on government decision-makers and approving authorities, rather than only contractors, developers or concessionaires.
