Parliament has approved the appointment of former Information Commissioner Abdul Azeez Jamaal Abu-Bakur to serve as the country’s Information Commissioner once again.
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu submitted Abdul Azeez’s name to Parliament on August 23, with the current commissioner, Ahmed Aahid Rasheed, set to complete his term next month.
The Independent Institutions Committee reviewed the nomination and recommended his appointment after he scored more than 75 percent in the committee’s assessment.
During the assessment, Abdul Azeez said the Right to Information Act is intended to ensure that members of the public have access to information and that disputes over information requests should initially be handled through dialogue with government institutions.
He also said public hearings could be conducted when requested information cannot be obtained through other means.
Abdul Azeez, who was the country’s first Information Commissioner and was involved in drafting the Right to Information Act, said information held by state institutions should be treated as something the public has a fundamental right to access.
Following the committee’s recommendation, Parliament approved his appointment by 47 votes to 11, with 11 lawmakers voting against.
Abdul Azeez has previously served as a Member of Parliament and held several positions related to language. He currently serves as a State Minister at the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Heritage.
The Information Commissioner is an independent official accountable directly to Parliament and is responsible for carrying out duties established under the Right to Information Act and other relevant laws and regulations.
