KUALA LUMPUR – Noting that there were 73,545 whistleblower complaints but only 527 of the whistleblowers were accorded protection, opposition chief Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (Port Dickson-PH) said the country needs a “courageous” anti-graft body and an improved Whistleblower Protection Act.
He also questioned the government’s commitment to address corruption and the weaknesses in the Whistleblower Protection Act.
Anwar told the Dewan Rakyat during Question Time that whistleblowing is only one factor in the fight against corruption, saying that enforcement is equally crucial.
He said improving the Whistleblower Protection Act is a welcome move, but it may be a futile one without proper enforcement.
He added that the country needs a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission that is transparent and courageous enough to combat high-profile graft cases.
In his reply, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Parliament) Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar (Santubong-GPS) said since 2011, there have been 73,545 whistleblower complaints, but only 527 of the whistleblowers received protection under the law.
“This shows that there are weaknesses in the implementation of the law or within provisions of the act itself. We will perform studies to make amendments and hold discussions with relevant stakeholders.
“Further discussions with the cabinet over the matter are scheduled for December.”
Wan Junaidi said whistleblowers are expected to funnel their information to the police – a practice he acknowledged could lead to leaks.
Alternatively, referring to US and Australian examples, he added that whistleblowers could present their information to the directors of enforcement agencies or an ombudsman.
“So, we have three alternatives. One would be where whistleblowers funnel their information to the necessary directors, ombudsman, or the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission.” – The Vibes, November 16, 2021
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