Parliament Approves Abdul Azeez Jamaal Abu-Bakur as Maldives Information Commissioner

The Maldivian Parliament has approved the appointment of Abdul Azeez Jamaal Abu-Bakur as the Information Commissioner, marking the return of the country's first-ever holder of the office to the role. President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu submitted the nomination on August 23, as the term of the current commissioner, Ahmed Aahid Rasheed, is set to expire next month. The appointment was finalized following a vote in the Majlis, where 47 members voted in favor and 11 voted against. Before the final vote, the Parliament’s Independent Institutions Committee conducted a rigorous assessment, in which Abdul Azeez scored over 75 percent. During his interview with the committee, Abdul Azeez emphasized that the primary goal of the Right to Information (RTI) Act is to ensure public access to government data, suggesting that this objective should be pursued through diplomatic engagement with state bodies. Abdul Azeez outlined a strategy focused on consultation, stating he would work closely with government institutions to facilitate the release of requested information. He noted that public hearings would be utilized as a last resort when information cannot be obtained through other channels. Having been involved in the original drafting of the RTI Act, Abdul Azeez asserted that the legislation is designed to recognize the public's inherent right to access information based on the decisions of state institutions. His vision for the office emphasizes transparency while balancing the operational needs of the government. Abdul Azeez brings a diverse professional background to the role, having previously served as a member of Parliament and held various positions specializing in linguistics. He currently serves as a State Minister at the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Heritage. The Information Commissioner serves as an independent official, directly accountable to the Parliament. The role is tasked with overseeing the implementation of the Right to Information Act and ensuring that state entities adhere to transparency laws and regulations.