ILRAJ Questions Transparency of GPD and Diming Yimo Deal

ILRAJ Questions Transparency of GPD and Diming Yimo Deal

The Institute for Legal Research and Advocacy for Justice (ILRAJ) has formally requested comprehensive details from the Ministry of Information and Civic Education regarding the modernization of the Government Printing Department (GPD) and its subsequent joint venture with Diming Yimo Printing Company.

In correspondence addressed to the Minister on June 4, 2026, ILRAJ sought clarification on the legal, financial, and governance frameworks governing the partnership, citing significant public interest and the need for institutional transparency.

While acknowledging the potential for technological advancement within the GPD, the organization emphasized that the scale of the arrangement necessitates rigorous public scrutiny and adherence to statutory protocols.

Key areas of concern identified by ILRAJ include foreign investment structures, revenue-sharing models, and the expanded operational mandate of the GPD, particularly as they pertain to procurement integrity and electoral security.

Preliminary investigations by ILRAJ, involving the Law Officers' Department, failed to uncover specific legal instruments authorizing the department's current statutory status or the modernization agreement.

"This lack of disclosure constitutes a governance concern that underscores the necessity of this formal request," the organization noted.

The inquiry specifically requests documentation on the legal basis for GPD operations and the executive authority under which the agreement with Diming Yimo was finalized.

ILRAJ has requested copies of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), concession agreements, and specific data regarding the reported 70-30 revenue-sharing split to determine the beneficiaries and the criteria for such a distribution.

Further queries seek to verify if the partnership underwent competitive procurement, whether tax incentives were granted, and if the agreement received required parliamentary ratification.

Additionally, information was requested regarding the GPD's internal governance, pricing structures, oversight mechanisms, and audit procedures to ensure a robust accountability framework.

Invoking the Right to Access Information Act of 2013, ILRAJ reminded the Ministry of the statutory timeframe for compliance and requested a legal explanation for any information withheld under exemptions.

The organization maintained that the request aims to foster public confidence and ensure accountability for a project of significant national importance.

Formal copies of the request were concurrently submitted to the Government Printer and the Right to Access Information Commission (RAIC).