PARLIAMENT | The cabinet has decided to formulate the Freedom of Information Bill two months ago, said Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohamed Hanipa Maidin.

"A cabinet's approval arrived on June 20 to formulate a bill on freedom of information," he said in his winding-up debate on Anti-Fake News (Repeal) Bill 2018 at Dewan Negara today.

"However, I cannot give you an actual date as to when the bill will be formulated," he said.

He said the government is reviewing to repeal the acts, which it deemed as draconian, while drafting new laws that granted the right to access the government's information.

Currently, only the Penang and Selangor state governments have come up with a Freedom of Information Enactment.

In its election manifesto, Harapan promised to revamp the Official Secrets Act with an accompanying Freedom of Information Act.

"The Pakatan Harapan government will revise the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010, the Official Secrets Act 1972, and the Witness Protection Act 2009, and we will make the necessary improvements," read the manifesto.