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

The proposed Freedom of Information Bill 2026 must genuinely provide access to information and should not impose excessive restrictions that undermine the purpose of the legislation, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said. — Picture by Choo Choy May

First Published: Monday, 28 Sep 2026 3:18 PM MYT

Last Modified: Monday, 28 Sep 2026 3:19 PM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 28 — The proposed Freedom of Information Bill 2026 must genuinely provide access to information and should not impose excessive restrictions that undermine the purpose of the legislation, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

She said this was important to ensure the legislation achieved its intended objective, while taking into account the role and freedom of the media as part of the country’s democratic practices.

“You must make sure that if you have the FOI (Freedom of Information Act), it must be for information. You cannot have a bill where everything is prohibited from the outset... and I am very concerned about the media.

“For me, part of democracy in a country is to have that freedom of the media and have the full ability to do their work,” she told a press conference after the National Town Hall Public Hearing Session of the Special Select Committee (JKPK) on the Freedom of Information Bill 2026 at Parliament here today.

Azalina said the feedback received during the session showed positive responses to the proposed legislation, although the public wanted to see greater openness, with a balance still needing to be maintained.

She said the session also enabled the JKPK to hear views from the public, including the younger generation, while helping the committee review weaknesses identified in the existing blue bill.

“We need to look at it again because the blue bill that we have has many weaknesses. We see the weaknesses. So it’s good for this town hall and the public will know that the select committee members are extremely aware of the weaknesses and also understand that there is a need to have a balance,” she said.

On the next steps, Azalina said the JKPK would reconvene after the town hall session and review the issues raised before finalising the process.

“So far, this is only the national town hall. So we will come back for a select committee meeting soon and then we will relook. Basically, technically, there is the government bill, the blue bill and technically the select committee will also have their bill after this. So there will be like two bills,” she said.

Earlier, Azalina said in her welcoming remarks that the Freedom of Information Bill 2026 was tabled for its first reading in the Dewan Rakyat on July 13 before being referred to the JKPK on July 14, with several meetings and proceedings held since then to obtain the views of stakeholders.

She said the review must ensure that the legislation being introduced not only has good intentions but also clear provisions and implementation mechanisms.

“Good laws are not just laws that have good intentions. Good laws must have clear provisions and have application mechanisms that are understandable and can be implemented,” she said.

In July, Azalina said when tabling the Freedom of Information Bill 2026 for its first reading that the Bill was among the key measures to strengthen transparency, accountability and good governance, while enhancing public access to official government information in an orderly manner and in accordance with the law.

She said the Government also took note of various views raised by civil society organisations (CSOs) and stakeholders on several aspects of the Bill. — Bernama