KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 6 — The Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill is seen as an important step by the Madani government to strengthen administrative transparency and accountability, thereby enabling the public and organisations to obtain information that does not compromise national security.
Geostrategist expert Professor Azmi Hassan said the act provides space for the public and journalists to request information that was previously difficult to obtain, especially information that is no longer considered sensitive or confidential after a certain period.
“Information that does not compromise national security should be accessible to the public through established procedures. This makes it easier for the public and organisations to obtain information of public interest," he told Bernama.
Azmi, who is also a Fellow of the National Professors Council, said the implementation of the FOI is important to dispel the perception that the government is hiding certain information.
"With the FOI, the accusation that the government is hiding information can be avoided, in addition to ensuring that news organisations and the public are not denied the right to access relevant information," he said.
Meanwhile, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities director Associate Professor Mazlan Ali said the FOI Bill is part of the Madani government's commitment to strengthen institutional reforms in the country.
“These steps are not easy because previous governments have tried them, but without success.
"Under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the Madani government has shown a high level of commitment in ensuring that the foundation for institutional reforms in the country can be implemented," he said.
The prime minister, in his 2026 New Year’s message at the monthly assembly for January with the Prime Minister's Department staff yesterday, announced that the FOI Bill will be tabled in Parliament this year.
Although acknowledging that many have expressed concerns about the FOI, Anwar assured that matters that threaten national security, including intelligence information, would be exempted under the Bill.
