PUTRAJAYA, Aug 29 — The Unity Government’s decision to draft the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act reflects the transparency of an administration that maintains every citizen should have the right to seek, receive, and provide information through any medium or platform.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said the government’s primary goal is to ensure the public has access to authentic information that is more open and transparent from government sources, as this indirectly involves the public in policymaking.
According to the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 59 of 1946, freedom of information is the right of the public to access information held by public bodies and is part of the right to freedom of expression.
She said the Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister’s Department has conducted comprehensive engagement sessions across the country, involving 1,100 participants including representatives from civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations, legal bodies, and academicians.
“Today’s engagement session also involved speakers and experts from abroad, including Australia, Canada, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia, who shared their experiences in implementing FOI. This serves as a guide and reference in the process of drafting the FOI Act in Malaysia,” she said in a statement today.
The statement was issued in conjunction with the two-day engagement session on the FOI Act held in Putrajaya, starting today. The session aims to discuss interactively with relevant ministries and agencies as the information custodians to gather views and input on the drafting of the FOI Act.
On September 14, 2023, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim reportedly said the Cabinet Special Committee on National Governance had, in principle, agreed to draft the FOI Act to establish clear parameters and guidelines for public access to information from public bodies and the government.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister’s Office, in a statement on September 14, said that in line with the decision to draft the FOI Act, the Official Secrets Act 1972 will be amended to enhance public service delivery and encourage public involvement in national policymaking.
— Bernama
