KUALA LUMPUR: The government will review proposal to amend the Official Secrets Act 1972 (OSA), Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Razali Ibrahim said the government would review the suggestion although it was currently satisfied with its effectiveness.
"Since 2012, a total of 22 cases were recorded with 3 charged under the act. Meanwhile, a total of eight government staff have been charged and prosecuted since the act came in force, although no one have been convicted under the act since 2000.
"The government through Chief Government Security Office (CGSO) have increase programmes to civil staff especially implementers of government policies. Government Strategic Information Management with Integrity programme was also conducted for staff at administrative level in ministries, Menteri Besar and Chief Ministers' offices," he said in reply to a question by Datuk Zainudin Ismail (BN-Jelebu) earlier.
Razali denied claims that there were cover ups of corruption cases through the implementation of OSA.
"The act is aimed at upholding the government's integrity. Some documents are not supposed to be made public especially those that are still in discussion. The act of leaking confidential information will affect the government's administration and may even pose threat to our security and economy," he said.