The Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill is expected to be tabled in Parliament by mid-2025, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman said today. The decision was taken after seven comprehensive engagement sessions with 1,500 experts and stakeholders comprising representatives from government agencies, NGOs, civil society organisations (CSOs), academics and international experts from various countries to ensure that the Bill is in line with Malaysia’s needs.
Previously, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M. Kulasegaran announced that the FOI Bill would be tabled by the end of 2024. It will provide access to information to all citizens with exceptions for personal data, national security information, defence and diplomatic relations.
The main principle behind the FOI Bill is that the public has the right to know about the activities of public authorities to ensure that they are carried out transparently, thus strengthening democracy, increasing access to information, empowering the people and building trust in the government.