No Whistleblower Protection For Businessman In Sabah Mining Case Says Macc

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 The graft buster’s legal department reiterates that anyone involved in the offence being reported is not eligible for whistleblower protection.
MACC legal and prosecution senior director Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin said reports filed with malicious intent, such as to seek revenge or defame others, do not meet the criteria for whistleblower protection. (Bernama pic)KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has confirmed that the businessman set to be charged alongside two Sabah assemblymen in connection with a corruption case involving mineral mining licences is not protected by the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010
MACC legal and prosecution senior director Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin said Section 11(1) of the Act clearly states that anyone involved in the offence they report is not eligible for protection.
“If a person is involved in the offence in any way, they are not protected under the Act and therefore cannot be considered a whistleblower.
“This is to preserve the integrity of the whistleblower framework and prevent it from being misused as a ‘shield’ by those trying to escape accountability,” he told Bernama.
Wan Shaharuddin said that to qualify for protection, a report must be made in good faith to a recognised enforcement agency such as MACC, the police or other authorised government body.
“Reports made with malicious intent, such as to seek revenge or defame others, do not meet the criteria for protection,” he said.
Earlier, the businessman’s lawyer claimed that his client was a whistleblower who had cooperated with authorities, but was later informed he would be charged in court on June 30.
Several video clips had gone viral previously, allegedly featuring conversations involving certain individuals and Sabah elected representatives discussing corrupt practices linked to mineral mining activities.
Earlier today, MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki confirmed that two Sabah assemblymen and another person were expected to be charged in court this month in connection with the scandal. - FMT

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