Don’t water down FOI bill just to get it passed, says govt official

KUALA LUMPUR: A senior government official involved in drafting the proposed Freedom of Information (FOI) Act has cautioned against watering down the bill merely to ensure its passage.

Punitha Silivarajoo, deputy director-general (policy) of the legal affairs division in the Prime Minister’s Department, said the proposed law must be practical, enforceable, and capable of improving public access to government information.

Speaking at the Freedom of Information Forum 2026 here today, Punitha said there has been extensive engagement with the relevant stakeholders and the bill was expected to be submitted to the Cabinet for approval soon.

She added that civil servants also need to be given proper guidance and training.

“(The law) has to be something that you can implement. The other thing is to guide civil servants. Their mindset change is so important.”

Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) executive director Wathshlah Naidu said the proposed law must be supported by clear limits on exemptions and include robust safeguards.

“Exemptions must be very narrow, but most importantly, clearly defined,” she said.

Wathshlah said the law would also require an independent oversight body to ensure public agencies comply with their obligations.

She added that the law could not operate in isolation and must be supported by reforms to other legislation, including the Official Secrets Act, Section 203A of the Penal Code, and the Whistleblowers Protection Act.

Malaysian Bar president Anand Raj and Selayang MP William Leong also stressed that a federal FOI law is needed to strengthen accountability and institutional reform.

They said access to government information is part of the public’s right to information and is essential for transparency, better policymaking, and efforts to reduce corruption.

Leong identified several challenges to implementing the law, including conflicts with existing secrecy laws, resistance within the civil service, delays in information disclosure, and the weak management of records across agencies.

Anand warned that without a proper FOI framework, Malaysians would continue to face lengthy court battles when government agencies refuse to disclose information.

The FOI bill is slated to be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat during the current parliamentary session.