The government will table a motion in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday to refer the Freedom of Information Bill 2026 to a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) for further scrutiny, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said announced.
Azalina said the move would allow for more comprehensive examination of the Bill through engagement with Members of Parliament and key stakeholders.
“The government has taken note of the various views from civil society organisations and stakeholders on several aspects of the Bill.
“These views reflect our shared commitment to ensuring the legislation meets reform goals and follows best practices,” she said in a statement.
She said the proposed law forms part of the government’s institutional reform agenda to strengthen transparency, accountability and good governance, while providing the public with lawful and structured access to official information.
According to Azalina, referring the Bill to the PSC is in line with the government’s approach to major institutional reforms to ensure the legal framework is comprehensive, balanced and enjoys public confidence.
The Bill was tabled for its first reading in the Dewan Rakyat earlier, with the second reading initially scheduled during the current parliamentary sitting.
The Freedom of Information Bill 2026 seeks to establish a legal framework governing public access to information held by public authorities. Under the proposed law, Malaysian citizens aged 18 and above would be allowed to submit written requests for official documents.
However, the Bill also stipulates that existing secrecy laws will continue to prevail. Documents protected under the Official Secrets Act 1972 and other laws providing for confidentiality will remain exempt from disclosure.
