House seeks input on freedom

JAKARTA: A House of Representatives (DPR) committee deliberating the bill on freedom of information is inviting feedback from officials and activists of non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

Committee chairman Paulus Widiyanto said on Tuesday that he hoped his committee would receive some input before going into recess from March 7 to April 25.

NGOs had been urging legislators to speed up deliberations because the government was also preparing a bill on state secrecy.

Paulus pledged that his committee would prioritize the bill on freedom of information.

"The bill on state secrecy will be reviewed for comparison," he told the press after an internal meeting.

Paulus said the committee was planning to visit Gorontalo Mayoralty, the only area with a regional regulation on freedom of information. -- JP