Azeez: Public hearings for non-disclosure of information will be held as a last resort

Abdul Azeez Jamal Aboobakr (Azee), President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s nominee for the position of Information Commissioner, on Monday, said that public hearings would only be held as a last resort when efforts to obtain requested information have been exhausted.

Applications for the position were accepted from August 3 to 16, with the term of the current Information Commissioner, Ahmed Ahid Rasheed, due to expire on September 6.

Among the applicants, President Dr. Muizzu nominated Azeez for the position. Following an interview on Monday, Parliament’s Independent Institutions Committee approved his nomination. Six members attended the meeting, with the sole dissenting vote coming from MDP’s South Galolhu MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem.

Responding to questions from MP Meekail, Azeez highlighted his longstanding involvement with the Right to Information (RTI) Act, noting that he was a member of Parliament’s Social Committee when the legislation was researched and drafted in 2014.

Azeez stressed that the primary purpose of the RTI Act is to facilitate public access to information, rather than to expose or discredit institutions.

"During my tenure, my approach is to secure requested information through diplomacy. If the information is successfully obtained, there is no necessity for a public hearing," said Azeez, who previously served as the Maldives’ first Information Commissioner.

He further suggested that some individuals call for public hearings immediately after filing cases primarily to gain publicity.

"I will continue to refrain from holding such hearings unless all other efforts to obtain the information fail," he added.

Azeez maintained that his focus while serving in office has always been to ensure that members of the public receive the information they request. He said a hearing scheduled toward the end of his previous tenure was held only as a last resort after the Elections Commission failed to provide information concerning certain forms.

Taking credit for establishing the Information Commissioner’s Office, Azeez said he developed the relevant regulations and institutional structures without incurring any additional cost to the state.

He reaffirmed his commitment to upholding the right to information, while emphasizing his preference for achieving transparency through non-publicized means.

"No one can claim that they failed to receive information under my watch," he asserted.

However, Transparency Maldives has previously raised concerns about Azeez’s tenure, alleging that the RTI Act was not fully implemented during his time in office. The organization has said it does not consider him the most suitable candidate for the position and has called on Parliament to reject his nomination and reopen the application process.