Only Eight RTI Requests Left Unanswered Last Year, Ministry Asserts

Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali has said that only eight Right to Information (RTI) submissions went unanswered by the ministry last year, a situation he attributed to the departure of the ministry’s Information Officer, and confirmed that steps are being taken to resolve the issue.

In a statement to the media, Dr Shaheem noted that the Ministry of Islamic Affairs had received 101 RTI requests over 2024 and 2025, providing responses for 93 of them. All 60 requests submitted in 2024 were answered, while eight of the 41 requests submitted in 2025 went unanswered due to the vacancy in the Information Officer position.

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The minister emphasised that the ministry prioritises transparency and complies with all relevant laws regarding information dissemination. He assured that the practice of responding to RTI submissions in accordance with the law will continue.

Dr Shaheem also highlighted ongoing efforts to keep the public and media informed, including the annual ‘Media Exhibition’, held over the past two years to bring information closer to journalists and the wider public.