President's Office Responds to 233 Right to Information Requests in One Year

The President's Office has processed and responded to 233 Right to Information (RTI) applications over the past year, according to Chief Government Spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef. The data was disclosed during a recent "Presser with the Spox" briefing, highlighting the administration's efforts to maintain transparency through official channels. Statistics show that the office received a total of 288 RTI applications during the period. While 233 requests were successfully resolved, 55 applications remain pending. A detailed breakdown reveals that between May and December of last year, 170 of the 182 received applications were answered. Since the start of this year, the office has received another 106 requests, with 63 responses issued to date. During the briefing, Hussain Shareef addressed emerging patterns in how information is requested. He noted a trend of anonymous individuals submitting multiple requests for the same information, suggesting that such behavior may deviate from the original intent of transparency legislation. He observed that these applications often contain specific questions designed to achieve particular objectives rather than seeking general public information. However, the Spokesperson clarified that certain limitations remain within the RTI framework to protect state interests. Information that could jeopardize foreign relations, classified details within financial agreements, and matters concerning national security are strictly exempt from disclosure under the current law. Beyond the RTI data, the briefing also covered supplementary statistics regarding the President's official international visits to various foreign nations, framing the office's communication strategy as part of a broader effort to keep the public informed on both domestic governance and international diplomacy.