Govt forms protem committee to draft Freedom of Information Bill

Summary

• Govt forms protem committee to draft the Freedom of Information Bill.

• Committee includes representatives from key government agencies, NGOs, academia, and the legal fraternity to ensure a holistic and transparent process.

• The committee is expected to complete its work within five months, with the bill targeted to be tabled in Parliament during the November to December session, subject to cabinet approval.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman has established a protem committee for the drafting of the Freedom of Information Bill to enhance democratic governance and transparency.

Among its primary objectives are drafting a comprehensive legal framework to ensure transparency, accountability, and the public’s right to information in accordance with the Federal Constitution, democratic principles, and international best practices.

Besides drafting the bill, the committee will also recommend mechanisms for its implementation at the federal level.

“This is a strategic and proactive initiative by the government to ensure that the drafting of the FOI Bill is conducted effectively, transparently, and inclusively with the involvement of all relevant stakeholders,” the Legal Affairs Division (BHEUU) of the Prime Minister’s Department said in a statement last Thursday.

The protem committee is chaired by the director-general of BHEUU, with the deputy director-general (Policy and International Relations) serving as deputy chairperson. Other members include:

• Representatives from the Attorney-General’s Chambers, Prime Minister’s Department, Finance Ministry, Public Service Department, Office of the Chief Government Security Officer, Communications Ministry, and Digital Ministry.

• Civil society organisations including Suhakam, Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ), Article 19, C4 Center, and Transparency International Malaysia.

• Academics and representatives from the Malaysian Bar.

According to the statement, the committee has been given five months to complete its mandate, culminating in the tabling of the Freedom of Information Bill in Parliament, targeted for the November–December 2025 session, pending cabinet approval.

Enhancing government transparency

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has previously announced that the government will table the FOI Bill in Parliament by 2025, as part of its efforts to enhance transparency in public administration.

The FOI Act is a legal framework that empowers citizens to request and access information held by government bodies, subject to defined exemptions.

Globally, FOI laws are recognised as vital tools for promoting transparency, accountability, and anti-corruption efforts.

In Malaysia, the push for a comprehensive FOI Act has been ongoing for years. Existing access to information laws are often constrained by the Official Secrets Act (OSA), which restricts public access to government documents.

Critics have argued that these limitations impede efforts to hold public officials accountable and create obstacles to good governance.

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