The government will not enact a law on freedom of information because the "need does not arise", according to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz.

"The government is of the opinion that existing legislation is adequate to allow and ensure public access to government-held information," the minister said in reply to Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timor) during the question session in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Lim had asked whether the government would introduce the law to allow for access to official information, with exceptions for special cases such as national security or confidentiality of personal information.

Replying, Nazri explained that dissemination of official information is covered by the Official Secrets Act 1972, and that heads of government departments are tasked with placing official documents in one of two main categories.

These are 'classified information' and 'open information'. The public can freely access information categorised as 'open'.

'Classified information' covers four categories - top secret, secret, confidential and restricted. Those in possession of such documents face a mandatory jail sentence.

Nazri said the cabinet has empowered the heads of agencies or departments to reclassify information - it can upgraded, downgraded or declassified as the need arises.

"The cabinet can order the regrading of the official documents based on the prevailing situation as well as the need to fulfill the government's principles on transparency and accountability."

National security

The minister also stressed that the government would not release information to the public which could be deemed as detrimental to national security, or which could create tensions among Malaysians that could lead to public disorder or tarnish the government's image.

In a supplementary question, Lim said he had requested the enactment of the legislation almost a decade ago, when the government launched the Multimedia Super Corridor project in 1997.

"We need the Act to ensure that information in the hands of the government is not considered its property, but public information," the opposition leader said.

He listed a number of reports which have yet to be made public such as the Murad Report on education, the Approved Permit issue and the Police Royal Commission's interim report.

However, Nazri merely shot back: "No need".

Media activists have urged the Malaysian government to emulate Sweden, the first country to provide for for freedom of information in 1776.

Some 60 countries, including neighbouring Thailand, have enacted such legislation to date.