'Freedom of Information Bill will reflect better transparency in lawmaking'

 

The Freedom of Information Bill will include provisions for greater transparency in the drafting and amending of laws, said the minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (law and institutional reform).

Azalina Othman Said was responding to civil society organisations’ (CSOs) calls for a comprehensive overhaul of the legislative process.

"I welcome suggestions from all stakeholders and am pleased to share that these suggestions will be proposed to be covered under the Freedom of Information Bill.

"This will enhance the transparency of the government’s lawmaking process for the public’s best interest,” she was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times.

However, Azalina did not elaborate on the progress of drafting the bill nor when it would be tabled in Parliament.

Yesterday, the groups urged the government to embark on a comprehensive overhaul of the legislative process due to concerns over lack of transparency, accountability and professionalism in drafting and amending laws.

While they respected the Attorney-General’s Chambers’ role in the process, the CSOs stated that the latter should not serve as the sole decision-maker for drafted legislation.

“Even if we have good draft legislation put together with the help of CSOs, the draft is heavily revised at the AGC, at times without consideration of the background issues.

“This process has yielded legislation that, at times, cannot be enforced, or is of limited scope and value,” they added.

In a parliamentary written reply in November last year, Azalina said the Legal Affairs Division, under the Prime Minister's Department, was identifying parameters and challenges related to the implementation to enact a Freedom of Information Act comprehensively.

The proposed law, the Pengerang MP added, would enhance disclosure of information and provide public access to information from public bodies and the government. - Mkini