Information Communication and Culture Minister Rais Yatim has said there is no "urgent need" for a Freedom of Information Act as Malaysia already has other “freedoms”.

"We have freedom of speech, human rights, national audit, the Evidence Act, Whistleblower Act and virtual means of information dissemination," he told the Dewan Rakyat during Question Time today.

NONE Answering Khairy Jamaluddin (BN-Rembau), Rais (right) also said his ministry is focusing on the flow of information to the public using such platforms as the Internet.

In the same vein, he maintained that the Official Secrets Act, which restricts public access to certain information, is still relevant as it is the "right of the government to classify certain information pertaining to national security".

Rais pointed to countries such as the UK and India which also practiced such limits on government information under their Official Secrets Act, as proof that Malaysia is not alone in such practices.

He insisted that when it comes to national interests involving defence and security matters, such restrictions are justified.

The Freedom of Information Act was introduced in western countries such as the UK and the United States, to declassify government documents for public interest and the right to information.

The legislation led to millions of classified documents being released, over issues spanning from government spending to espionage operations.

The opposition has proposed that similar legislation be passed in Malaysia.

The Pakatan-led Selangor for one has passed its own Freedom of Information Act through its state legislature, leading to declassification of state documents to the public. Other Pakatan states are set to follow.

280 loans approved

Meanwhile, according to Bernama , the government has received 1,623 applications for loans under the My First Home Scheme until January this year, said Najib Abdul Razak.

azlan Of them, 280 loans amounting to RM41.1 million have been approved, the prime minister said in a written reply to Hee Loy Sian (PKR-Petaling Jaya Selatan) at the Dewan Rakyat today.

Najib said to date Syarikat Perumahan Negara Bhd (SPNB) had carried out 56 low-cost, low-medium-cost and medium-cost housing projects involving 37,757 units until January.

Under the 1Malaysia People-Friendly Homes programme, SPNP has built 17,749 houses nationwide, he was quoted by the news agency.

He said for the same period, 32,762 houses under the People's Housing Project involving 25 projects were completed and 2,100 more under construction in Kuala Lumpur to ease housing shortage in the Klang Valley.

Najib said the construction of low-cost housing projects by private developers based on quotas set by state governments would help increase low-income home ownership in urban areas throughout the country.