Why are the CEP and IRC reports still kept secret under OSA 1972?

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DAP Veteran Calls for Declassification of CEP and IRC Reports

DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang has urged the current administration to declassify the reports by the Council of Eminent Persons (CEP) and the Institutional Reforms Committee (IRC), stating it was never the original intention for them to be classified under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) 1972. Lim expressed his bewilderment at former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's refusal to declassify these reports during the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government's tenure and suggested that Dr Mahathir's silence indicates an acknowledgment of wrongdoing. The call for transparency follows the recent declassification of documents related to the 1976 Sabah plane crash, highlighting a perceived inconsistency in information accessibility.
Reports Never Intended for OSA Classification

Lim Kit Siang asserted that the initial intent was never for the reports compiled by the Council of Eminent Persons (CEP) and the Institutional Reforms Committee (IRC) to be placed under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) 1972. He argued that this classification has prevented public debate and discussion on the findings and recommendations contained within these crucial documents. The DAP veteran believes that maintaining this secrecy contradicts the principles of good governance and transparency.
Past Administration's Handling of the Reports

Lim expressed significant confusion regarding the decision by the former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to withhold the declassification of the CEP and IRC reports in 2018 or 2019. He posited that Dr Mahathir's continued silence on the matter suggests a tacit admission that he erred in keeping these reports classified. Lim suggested that this action was a betrayal of the NGOs and individuals who contributed their views to both committees.
Call for Current Government to Rectify Past Mistakes

The current unity government, led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, is being urged not to perpetuate the perceived mistake made by the previous administration. Lim Kit Siang emphasised the critical importance of declassifying the CEP and IRC reports, drawing a parallel with the government's recent decision to remove the security classification on documents pertaining to the June 6, 1976 Sabah plane crash. This move, he argued, sets a precedent for greater transparency regarding sensitive historical information.
Background of the CEP and IRC

The Council of Eminent Persons (CEP) was chaired by Tun Daim Zainuddin, a former finance minister and close confidant of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. This council was reportedly dissolved shortly after the PH government completed its first 100 days in office. The Institutional Reforms Committee (IRC), on the other hand, was established with the objective of examining proposed institutional reforms that had been identified by the PH government in 2018, aiming to address systemic issues within the country's governance structures.

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Why are the CEP and IRC reports still kept secret under OSA 1972?

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