PETALING JAYA: The government is considering a general policy to declassify historical documents currently classified under the Official Secrets Act 1972 (OSA), in a move aimed at improving public access to the country's historical records.
Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said the matter was raised by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during the second meeting of the National Historians' Council (MSjN) for 2026, held earlier this week.
He said the Prime Minister had agreed with several views put forward by historians on the need to establish a general policy governing the declassification of historical documents currently classified as official secrets.
Fahmi said the proposal would be examined further, including by the Attorney-General's Chambers, to assess its legal implications and determine how access to historical documents could be facilitated.
He added that the Prime Minister had directed that the process be carried out as soon as possible, but with due care.
Elaborating, Fahmi said the government would also consult police and the Home Ministry on relevant aspects of the proposal.
He said documents that were less sensitive could potentially be prioritised for declassification as an initial step, particularly those classified under the lower category of the OSA.
"The Prime Minister's instruction is that this should be implemented immediately, but carefully. We will refer the matter to the Attorney-General's Chambers on several aspects, as well as consult PDRM and the Home Ministry," he said.
Fahmi said the government would explore whether certain documents could be declassified first, particularly those that were not highly sensitive, as this could provide a more practical starting point.
