International Tools: How Relevant are the OGP and EITI for Malaysia?

Workshop on OGP and EITI

13 October 2014
Key messages from this presentation
The government has initiated various reform
programmes (Government Transformation
Programme)
But many people in civil society remain
unconvinced
We need to institutionalise public participation
OGP and EITI are such measures to do so
This will enhance public trust in government
initiatives and improve service delivery
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Presentation Structure
Overview of Malaysia
Participatory policy-making
Open information
OGP in a Malaysian context
How it could benefit us
Malaysias eligibility
EITI in a Malaysian context
Moving forward: Institutionalising good
governance practices
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Ad hoc public participation in
policy making
ubllc
paruclpauon
ln pollcy
maklng
8elng
engaged
8elng
ConsulLed
8elng
lnvolved
8elng
lnformed
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Public
events
Townhalls
1Malaysia
website
Social
Media
Civil society in Malaysia
Heavily divided along partisan lines
Many pseudo-CSOs
Relationship with government is generally
either subservient or antagonistic
It is usually the critical friends who are
valuable and whose views should be taken
seriously
Civil society seeks to participate in policy-
making but face constraints like the Official
Secrets Act which restricts information
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How Malaysia fared in the
Open Budget Index 2012

The Open Budget Index ranks
participating countries according to
how government provides timely
access to comprehensive information
in key budget documents.
Malaysia scores 39/100 and is in the
category of Minimal information.
Malaysia does not publish:
Pre-Budget Statement
Citizens Budget
Mid-Year Review (of the Budget)
We are weak on Public Engagement
and moderate on Legislative Strength
Presentation Structure
Overview of Malaysia
Participatory policy-making
Open information
OGP in a Malaysian context
How it could benefit us
Malaysias eligibility
EITI in a Malaysian context
Moving forward: Institutionalising good
governance practices
7
Open
Governmen
t
Partnership
(OGP)
AIM
Secure concrete commitments
from governments to: promote
transparency, empower citizens,
fight corruption and harness new
technologies to strengthen
governance

UNIQUE FEATURE
Institutionalised dialogue
between government and civil
society organisations
Regular Evaluation of Progress
Not a standard-setting body -
creates momentum and
institutionalise commitments

An international,
voluntary effort to
improve
government
performance,
encourage civic
participation and
enhance
government
responsiveness to
people
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Current OGP Participating Countries
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Started in 2011 with 8
Countries
Now 64 Countries
Potential Benefits to us
1. Malaysian Government
Increases credibility at the national, regional and international
platforms.
Builds trust amongst civil society and voting public.
Ensures ongoing dialogue in a civil setting where all parties can air
grouses.
Systematic record of issues, reports can be referred to in the future.
2. Civil Society
Civil society has a non-antagonistic platform to dialogue with
government.
Identifying relevant personnel within government to raise concerns
with.
3. General Public
Improved public services as concerns are dealt with.
Availability of open data.
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Eligibility Criteria
Governments must exhibit commitment to open
government in four key areas :
1)Fiscal transparency timely publication of essential budget
documents forms the basis of budget accountability and
open budget system
2)Access to information law that guarantees publics rights
to information and access to govt. data in line with the spirit
and practice of open govt.
3)Disclosures related to elected or senior public officials
Rules that require public disclosure of income and assets for
elected and senior public officials
4)Citizen engagement Open govt. requires openness to
citizen involvement in policymaking and governance,
including basic protections for civil liberties

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OGP Minimum Eligibility Criteria
Methods : Max. of four points for each area, with zero the lowest

Measurements:
1. Fiscal transparency (International Budget Partnership)
2. Access to information (right2info.org)
3. Income and asset disclosures ( World Bank, Chr. Michelsen)
4. Citizen engagement (EIU Democracy Index 2012)

To participate in OGP, countries must score at least 75% of the
total possible points available to them. (e.g. 12/16 or 9/12)
(Note: some countries are only measured on three criteria)

An independent group of experts oversees minimum criteria
and OGP Support Unit works with them to review country
scores.
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Malaysias Eligibility
Minimum standards Maximu
m scores
Scores obtained
Fiscal transparency 4 4
Access to information 4 1
Income and asset disclosures (elected
and senior public officials, politician)
4 2
(politicians: none;
Public officials:
not public)
Citizen engagement 4 3
Overall scoring 16 10
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Malaysia currently scores 10 out of possible 16 which brings to 62.5%,
below the minimum standard 75%. We need to add two more points.

The key here is, we must raise awareness about OGP.
Presentation Structure
Overview of Malaysia
Participatory policy-making
Open information
OGP in a Malaysian context
How it could benefit us
Malaysias eligibility
EITI in a Malaysian context
Moving forward: Institutionalising good
governance practices
14
2013 Resource Governance Index
(Revenue Watch Institute)
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0"123 45
678(*3 9:
Institutional and Legal Settings: 39
Reporting Practices: 45
Safeguard and Quality Control: 39
Enabling Environment: 60
Malaysias Increasing Reliance on
O&G, hence governance is key
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Petronas reports directly to the Prime Minister, as outlined
in the Petroleum Development Act 1974
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Petroleum producing states have higher incidence of
poverty than non-oil producing states
kelanLan
2.7
1erengganu
1.7
Sabah
7.8
Sarawak
2.4
Malaysias Incidence of Poverty: 1.7%
Source: Household Income and Poverty Statistics 2012
Increasing discontent
over petroleum revenue
sharing from federal to
state governments
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a global coalition of governments,
companies and civil society working
together to improve openness and
accountable management of revenues
from natural resources

Currently 46 compliant and candidate
countries, recording US$1,332 billion total
government revenue around the world.
EITI Requirements Summarised
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How EITI would benefit us?
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Presentation Structure
Overview of Malaysia
Participatory policy-making
Open information
OGP in a Malaysian context
How it could benefit us
Malaysias eligibility
EITI in a Malaysian context
Moving forward: Institutionalising good
governance practices
22
Institutionalising Good Governance
The government has initiated various reform
programme through Pemandus GTP (Fighting
Corruption, Reducing Crime, Improving Public
Transport etc)
But many people in civil society remain unconvinced
We need to institutionalise public participation
This will enhance public trust in government initiatives
The OGP and EITI provide good, internationally
accepted platforms that can help improve public trust
in the delivery system.
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Thank You
www.ideas.org.my

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