Wan Saiful questions why FOI draft bill ignored stakeholders’ views

P Petaling Jaya: Wan Saiful Wan Jan, the representative for Tasek Gelugor, has questioned the Attorney General's Chambers' (AGC) inclusion of views in the proposed Freedom of Information Bill 2026 after a public hearing. Wan Saiful stated that the AGC did not adequately consider the concerns raised by members of the special select committee and other stakeholders.

He posed the question on Facebook, asking whether the AGC truly took into account all the submissions during the process or dismissed them. Wan Saiful also attended a townhall session organized by the special select committee and raised concerns over Clause 22 of the draft legislation, which he believes should be reviewed. He asserted that the clause appears to deny the fundamental right to obtain information.

Wan Saiful thanked Azalina Othman Said, the law and institutional reform minister who chairs the committee, for her efforts to incorporate stakeholder views into the draft bill. Azalina expressed that the proposed legislation aims to provide genuine access to information without imposing excessive restrictions. She emphasized the importance of balancing the role and freedom of the media in a democratic society.

Azalina noted that the feedback from the public hearing was positive but indicated a desire for greater transparency. The special select committee is set to reconvene to address the issues raised before finalizing the bill. The Freedom of Information Bill 2026 was introduced for its first reading in the Dewan Rakyat on July 13 and subsequently referred to the special select committee.