Azalina: Freedom of Information Bill must balance openness with safeguards, avoid excessive prohibitions

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 28 — Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform), emphasized that the proposed Freedom of Information Bill 2026 must strike a balance between openness and safeguards, avoiding excessive prohibitions. She stressed that the legislation should genuinely facilitate information access, while also considering the media's role and freedom in upholding the country's democratic practices.

Azalina expressed concerns over the potential for a bill that prohibits information from the outset, which she deemed detrimental to media independence and democratic practices. During a press conference following the National Town Hall Public Hearing Session of the Special Select Committee (JKPK) on the Freedom of Information Bill 2026, Azalina noted that the feedback received was generally positive, although the public desired more openness, necessitating a careful balance.

She assured that the JKPK would reconvene after the town hall session to review the concerns raised and finalize the process. Azalina informed that the Freedom of Information Bill 2026, first introduced in the Dewan Rakyat on July 13, has undergone several meetings and discussions with stakeholders since its referral to the JKPK on July 14.

She underscored that a robust law should not only have noble intentions but also clear provisions and implementable mechanisms. The government had also taken into account the views of civil society organizations (CSOs) and stakeholders during the bill's development, as stated in her July remarks.