Select Committees Given Three Months to Study FOI, Admiralty Bills
Azalina Othman Said says both panels hope to submit their recommended improvements to Parliament in October.
Two parliamentary select committees have been given three months to study the proposed Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill and the Admiralty Jurisdiction Bill before submitting recommended improvements to Parliament.
Law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said, who chairs both panels, said they would hold engagements with all stakeholders over the next three months.
These include government ministries and agencies, legal experts, academics, professional bodies, industry players, the Malaysian Bar and relevant civil society groups.
She said both committees, which held their first meetings today, hoped to finalise their studies and submit their recommendations when Parliament convenes in October.
"The proposed Admiralty Jurisdiction Bill aims to modernise the framework of the country's maritime laws in line with international best practices, and to bolster Malaysia's competitiveness and position as a global maritime hub," she said in a statement.
"Meanwhile, the proposed FOI Bill is meant to strengthen the right of Malaysians to access information through a balanced, transparent and responsible legislation."
The FOI Bill has been among the most closely watched items on the government's reform agenda, while the Admiralty Jurisdiction Bill relates to the handling of maritime disputes.
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