COMMENT | As Parliament begins its Second Meeting of the year, Malaysia edges ever closer to legislating a Freedom of Information (FOI) Act.

This legislation is crucial in facilitating the right to information, a right that is not only pivotal in bringing to light acts of corruption and accountability within the government but, more generally, is a fundamental human right in any functioning democracy.

Article 10(1)(a) of the Federal Constitution guarantees freedom of speech and expression. A progressive and purposive constitutional interpretation would justify that meaningful expression requires access to information held by public bodies and authorities.

Without the right to seek, receive, and engage with information which is essential to public discourse, individuals would be unable to hold opinions, express themselves effectively, and participate in democratic governance.

Therefore...