Nominated Information Commissioner Seeks Proactive Government Disclosure of Public Data

Abdul Azeez Jamaal Abu-Bakur, the nominee for Information Commissioner, has outlined a vision to shift government transparency from a request-based system to one of proactive disclosure. Speaking before the Parliament's Committee on Independent Institutions, Abu-Bakur emphasized that critical government data should be accessible to the public before a formal request is even filed. During the committee's review of his nomination, Abu-Bakur argued that the fundamental goal of the Right to Information (RTI) Act is to ensure seamless access to information. He asserted that this objective is best achieved through diplomacy and strategic consultation with government bodies rather than through adversarial processes. Abu-Bakur noted that while public hearings remain a tool for transparency, they should serve as a last resort, utilized only when information cannot be obtained through other channels. He maintained that the spirit of the RTI Act was always intended to compel government institutions to publish information voluntarily, reducing the administrative burden on citizens who currently have to navigate formal application processes to learn about state activities. “We will make every effort possible to reduce the extent to which people need to request information,” Abu-Bakur told the committee. “Information about the work carried out by the government—matters that government institutions are expected to proactively undertake and disclose—should be available.” Having previously served as the nation's first Information Commissioner, Abu-Bakur explained that his decision to seek the role for a second time stems from a desire to revive core principles of transparency that he believes have eroded in recent years. He intends to restore the office's effectiveness by addressing systemic internal issues, starting with a comprehensive overhaul of the Information Commissioner’s Office website to improve public accessibility. If confirmed, Abu-Bakur will lead the agency tasked with overseeing the transparency of state institutions, ensuring that the Maldivian government remains accountable to its citizens through an open and accessible flow of information.