The Malaysian Parliamentary Select Committee began its review of the Freedom of Information Bill 2026 on August 4, ahead of the bill being tabled in Parliament [1, 2, 3]. The committee is chaired by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said [1, 2, 3].
The first meeting focused on finalising the terms of reference and set the stage for a detailed clause-by-clause examination of the bill [1, 2, 3]. Datuk Seri Azalina said, "I'm chairing the meeting for the Freedom of Information Bill. We're getting bipartisan participation with the Select Committee, so tomorrow will be the first meeting where we'll be looking into the terms of reference" [2].
The Bill proposes a regulatory framework for Malaysian citizens aged 18 and above to request official information. However, it exempts materials classified under the Official Secrets Act 1972 and documents protected by other laws [1, 2].
Concerns have emerged about the scope of the bill. Datuk Seri Azalina acknowledged that "there are many concerns, especially regarding the scope of the Bill. If you observe comments from NGOs and certain groups, they have said the FOI should be much wider. We will evaluate those concerns tomorrow" [1, 3].
There has been bipartisan participation with input sought from NGOs and professional bodies, as well as calls for wider access from civil society [1, 2, 3]. Six Pakatan Harapan lawmakers urged major amendments, saying the draft is weaker than existing FOI laws in Selangor and Penang [3]. Additionally, five states initially expressed reluctance to support the bill [3].
The committee expects to complete its review and submit recommendations before the next Dewan Rakyat sitting, though no specific date was given [1, 2, 3]. The review process aims to balance transparency with legal protections.
The Select Committee will continue detailed discussions over the coming weeks and deliver its findings on the bill in time for the parliamentary debate.
