President Mohamed Muizzu has reaffirmed that all Right to Information (RTI) requests submitted to the President’s Office will be addressed in line with legal requirements.
During a press briefing held at the President’s Office, the President admitted that several RTI applications are still pending but said directives have now been issued to ensure responses are handled more quickly and given priority.
Muizzu explained that any request connected to national security matters would undergo his personal review before information is disclosed.
He stated that issues tied to national security must be considered carefully within the boundaries of the Constitution and his presidential responsibilities, emphasizing that protecting the country’s security remains a top priority.
The President added that all other RTI submissions are expected to be processed without unnecessary delay, while ministries and state institutions have also been instructed to speed up responses to outstanding requests.
His remarks come amid growing public attention over delays in replying to applications filed under the Right to Information Act.
Earlier, during the “Presser with the Spox” programme, President’s Office Spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef revealed statistics on RTI requests received over the past year.
According to the figures shared, the President’s Office received 182 RTI applications between May and December last year, responding to 170 of them. Since January this year, 106 additional requests have been submitted, with 63 responses issued so far.
Overall, 288 RTI requests were received during the period, with 233 answered and 55 still pending.
The spokesperson also stressed that information concerning national security cannot be released under the RTI framework.
The President’s comments are likely to provide reassurance to individuals awaiting responses and indicate a renewed push by the administration to strengthen compliance with access to information laws.
