Malaysia's Freedom of Information Bill Said to be Among the Lowest in the World
Malaysia is now the focus of international human rights organizations following the proposed new Freedom of Information Bill. According to the Centre for Law and Democracy, the draft legislation places Malaysia at a very low position on the global list.
In the assessment conducted, Malaysia ranked 137th out of 142 countries evaluated. This position places Malaysia among the bottom 10 countries in the world in terms of information openness for its citizens.
The organization stated that the proposed draft bill does not meet the appropriate international standards. They are concerned that this law may restrict public access to important information that should be transparent and easily obtainable.
This issue has sparked debate among media practitioners and civil society organizations in Malaysia. They hope the government will review the draft to ensure it is more aligned with democratic principles and the rights of citizens to obtain accurate information.
For now, the government has yet to provide an official statement regarding the criticism from the international body. The public is currently awaiting the next steps from the authorities to see whether amendments will be made to improve the country's standing in the freedom of information index.