MPS first to announce Information Officer

Maldives Police Service (MPS) has announced Chief Inspector Hassan Haneef as its Information Officer, appointed under the Right to Information Act.

With this announcement today, MPS has become the first and only government office to make the announcement as the law came into force today. President ratified the Right to Information Act on 12 January.

MPS has provided e-mail addresses and other information through which the public can obtain information from the Police. Hassan Haneef also serves as the chief media official of Police, a post he has held since 2011.

Ministry of Home Affairs said that all government offices were informed on 1 July to appoint Information Officers and establish the necessary review committees.

President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has yet to establish an Information Commissioner’s Office which, according to Article 43 (a) of the Right to Information Act, has to be established before the law comes into force.

The President on 23 June proposed former Maavashu MP Abdul Azeez Jamaal Aboobakuru for the post of Information Commissioner for approval by the Parliament. Parliament Committee on Independent Institutions is currently reviewing the nomination.