KUALA LUMPUR: The Freedom of Information Bill can be expected to be tabled next year, says M. Kulasegaran (pic).
The Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) said the final decision would be discussed in December.
"It is taking more time than expected because it involves dealing with several relevant parties who have very different views.
"Please understand that the commitment by the government (regarding the Bill) is 100% and nothing less from what we have informed," he said.
Kulasegaran said this in response to a supplementary question from Datuk Wan Saifulruddin Wan Jan (PN Tasek Gelugor), who questioned the lack of commitment for the Freedom of Information Act by the government, and reason for delaying the presentation till next year.
Kulasegaran also added that the ministry was taking into account the experience of other countries, such as India with this Act.
Currently, the drafting of this law is being reviewed by the ministry and assisted by the Digital Ministry, the Attorney General's Chambers, the Chief Government Security Office, and other relevant government agencies, he said during his response to the original question from Wan Saifulruddin.
He said that the ministry has conducted comprehensive engagement sessions nationwide, involving a total of 1,500 individuals.
The engagement session has been completed, he said, and that findings from the session will be presented to the Special Committee of the National Governance Cabinet (JKKTN), chaired by the Prime Minister.
The meeting is scheduled for early December this year for further consideration and direction of the Act.
During the previous parliamentary session, Kulasegaran announced that the Freedom of Information Bill would be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat by the end of this year.
He 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.
