Kuala lumpur: The government will table a motion tomorrow to refer the Freedom of Information Bill 2026 to a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC), Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said announced today. She stated that the move would enable more thorough scrutiny of the Bill through engagement with MPs and stakeholders.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the government has considered various views from civil society organisations and stakeholders on several aspects of the Bill. These views are seen as a shared commitment to ensuring the legislation aligns with reform goals and adheres to best practices. Azalina emphasized that the Bill is part of the MADANI Government's institutional reform agenda, which aims to boost transparency, accountability, and good governance while providing the public with lawful and structured access to official information.

Azalina also mentioned that referring the Bill to the PSC is consistent with the MADANI Government's approach to major institutional reforms, ensuring that the legal framework is comprehensive, balanced, and trusted by the public. She had earlier tabled the Bill for its first reading in the Dewan Rakyat and confirmed that the second reading would take place during the current sitting.

The Freedom of Information Bill 2026 seeks to create a procedural framework for public access to information held by authorities. It allows any Malaysian citizen aged 18 and above to submit a written request for official documents. However, the Bill's text, published on Parliament's official portal, clarifies that existing secrecy laws will take precedence, with information under the Official Secrets Act 1972 and other protected documents remaining exempt from disclosure.