Sheila Coronel, Editor. Access to Information in Southeast Asia. (Phillippine Center for Investigative Journalism, 2001)


Appendix 1: Availability of Public Records (A Cross-Country Comparison)

  BURMA CAMBODIA INDONESIA MALAYSIA PHILIPPINES SINGAPORE THAILAND VIETNAM
Macroeconomic data (e.g. GNP, GDP, balance of payment, current account deficits) Sometimes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes. Some data are considered 'senstive' and are not easily accessed Yes No
General social data (e.g. literacy rate, poverty rate, infant mortality rate, employment rate) Sometimes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Population census data Sometimes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Sometimes
Environment data (e.g. forest cover, air/water quality, coral reef destruction) Rarely No Yes Yes, but scientific quality may vary Yes Yes Yes No
Copies of laws Sometimes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Somtimes
Copies of government directives & circulars Yes Yes Sometimes Sometimes, unless classified secret Yes No Yes Sometimes
National government budget (revenues and expenditures) Sometimes Yes Yes Yes, but only general consolidated data Yes Yes Yes Sometimes
Local gov't budgets No Rarely Yes No Yes Yes Yes Somtimes
Military expenditures No No. Only basic information available No. Only total amount disclosed. LIne items not provided. No Rarely No Yes, except the military secret budget No
Gov't loans & contracts Sometimes No Sometimes No, but statistics on national debt are published Sometimes, usually depends on the discretion of the record custodian Yes Yes No, except for some international contracts available via int'l agencies
Military loans & contracts No No No No Rarely No Yes No
Official audit reports of gov't agencies Do not exist No No Sometimes, to students and researchers Yes, once the audit report has been declared final Yes Yes, for the reports already passed by parliament; Sometimes, for those under audit No, excpet for media releases
Records of congressional or parliamentary proceedings No parliament here No Sometimes Yes Yes, except those held in executive session Yes Sometimes Sometimes
Reports of official investigation on the conduct of gov't officials No No No Sometimes, if the report is made public by the Cabinet No, until the case has been resolved; yes, if the case is filed in court No for administrative cases; Yes for criminal cases Yes Sometimes
Police investigation reports No No Sometimes No, unless with a court order No, except to parties involved in the case Rarely Sometimes No
Military/police intelligence reports No No No No No No Sometimes No
Credit investigations No No No No, for checks through financial institutions; Yes, for Assignee Department (declared bankrupts only) No No No No
Court records Rarely No Sometimes Yes, for civil cases; for criminal cases, notes of proceedings are available only to parties involved Yes Yes, except for cases lodged with Syariah court, but only if considered public records Sometimes Sometimes
Resume of gov't officials Rarely No Sometimes Sometimes, but summaries only Yes No No No
Bank records of gov't officials No No No. 1998 banking law prohibits disclosure of client information No No No To be decided No
Election contributions & expenditures No elections here Sometimes Sometimes No, detailed accounts not required by law, although limits are set on expenditures and a declaration of compliance must be filed Yes Yes To be decided No
Registration of other forms of property of gov't officials (aircraft, yachts, cars) No No No No Yes No Yes No
Financial disclosure reports that show assets and liabilities of gov't officials No No No No Yes No To be decided No
Corporate registration records Sometimes Yes Sometimes Yes Yes Yes Yes Sometimes
Financial statements of publicly listed companies No stock exchange here No stock exchange here Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Financial statements of companies not listed on the stock exchange Sometimes No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Sometimes, but records are unreliable
Corporate tax records No No No No No No Sometimes Sometimes, but records are unreliable
Business licenses & permits Sometimes Yes Sometimes Yes for business licenses; No for permits Yes Sometimes Yes Yes
Civil registry records (e.g. birth, marriage, divorce, death records) No Yes Sometimes Sometimes, only with a court order No Yes No Yes
Gov't service records No Yes Sometimes No Yes No Yes No
Military personnel records No No No No Rarely No No No
Academic records No Rarely Sometimes No No No Yes Sometimes
Land registration records Rarely Yes Sometimes Yes Yes Yes Sometimes Yes
Real estate tax records Rarely Yes Sometimes No Sometimes. Records are released only with proper authorization No Sometimes Yes through Local Tax Bureau
Licenses & permits (license to own and carry firearms) No Gun ownership is banned Sometimes No, this is classified secret Yes No Sometimes No
Vehicle registration No Yes No Sometimes, if party to a legal suit Yes No, except when party is involved in accidents No Yes
Driver's license No Yes No Sometimes, if party to a legal suit Yes No No Sometimes
Alien information (e.g. date of entry, manner of arrival; addresses; occupation; age) No Yes Sometimes No Sometimes No Sometimes No
Voter registration records No elections here Yes Sometimes Yes. Published copy limited to clients like political parties and elected representatives; voters may check their personal particulars only Yes. Only lists of registered voters No, restricted to voter Yes Yes
Medical records Rarely No No Sometimes, but only with written permission from patient No, only with permission of patient NO No Sometimes
Income tax returns No No No Rarely, only with taxpayer's written permission or authorization by Finance Minister No, only when released by taxpater No Sometimes No
Industry or professional listings/directories (e.g. bar associations, chambers of commerce) Yes Yes Sometimes Yes Sometimes Yes Yes Yes
National ID records No No No, still. experimental in greater Jakarta area Rarely, only with a court order No national ID system No No national ID system No
Professional licensing record Sometimes Yes Sometimes Sometimes, if party to a legal suit Sometimes Yes Yes Sometimes
Civil service exams and related information No Yes Sometimes No Yes No Sometimes No