KUALA LUMPUR: The Freedom of Information Bill will be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat by the end of this year, says M. Kulasegaran.
The Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) explained that the Bill would give every individual the opportunity to access information on any ministries or government agencies.
Information on personal data, matters that threaten national security, defence and diplomatic relations will, however, be excluded.
“Input from the various engagement sessions held will be presented to the Cabinet for approval and the Bill is expected to be tabled in Parliament by the end of the year,” he said during Minister's Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (July 16).
He said the government also agreed that the Official Secrets Act 1972should be amended accordingly, to ensure both Acts function in tandem with each other.
Kulasegaran said the Legal Affairs Division has carried out comprehensive engagements nationwide that involved more than 1,100 participants from state governments, local councils, non-governmental organisations, legal bodies and academics.
Another engagement will be held at the end of August with more than 500 participants from federal ministries and agencies expected to attend, he added.
“The sessions aim to obtain feedback on the scope, legal parameters, implementation and cost implications for the coming Bill,” he told Tan Kok Wai (PH-Cheras), who asked about the status of the Bill and its tabling.
Tan also asked about negative pushback towards tabling this Bill.
Kulasegaran said there had been no pushback at the federal level but state governments did not have the same views as Putrajaya.
“Many said they wanted their own legal framework so they can control matters related to the state.
“However, we are still carrying out engagements (and) many (participants) said we should push forward with it,” he said.
He added that a non-partisan body will be formed to handle situations where government bodies decline to provide the requested information.
The body will comprise retired judges and other learned persons.
“This will be done by the government to ensure more transparency for the benefit of the people,” he said.
