Whistleblower Act Amended Govt Mulls Future Edits To Broaden Protection

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PARLIAMENT | Putrajaya may allow whistleblowers to report wrongdoings via other platforms besides submitting their claims to enforcement agencies, as part of further changes to the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010.
While Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M Kulasegaran did not specifically detail the other platforms being considered by the government, the Act has come under scrutiny after a whistleblower who went to the media was denied protection.
In his winding-up speech for a bill to amend the Act, Kulasegaran said the government is considering proposals to expand reporting channels for whistleblowers, including the possibility of allowing disclosures to parties other than enforcement agencies.
The aim of such a measure, he said, would be to encourage more whistleblowers to come forward without fear.
However, he said that concerns persist over how disclosures made to the media could put the whistleblowers in harm's way.
Ipoh Barat MP M Kulasegaran“It is hard to provide protection (for those who whistleblow to the media). It is feared that information regarding the whistleblowers’ identity and the details provided could end up being widely circulated (by the media),” he added.
Earlier today, businessperson-turned-whistleblower Albert Tei’s lawyer revealed that while his client had approached the MACC with information about a corruption scandal in Sabah, officers from the anti-graft agency had warned him against coming forward.
Tei, who later exposed the mining licence scandal to Malaysiakini, released a series of videos and documents allegedly implicating nine politicians, including the Sabah assembly speaker, whom he claimed accepted bribes in exchange for mining prospecting licences.
On July 30, however, he was slapped with corruption charges accusing him of giving bribes, with the MACC insisting that he could not be afforded protection under the Whistleblower Protection Act as he was supposedly involved in the reported offence.
Businessperson Albert TeiGovt-appointed committee ’looks bad’
The Whistleblower Protection (Amendment) Bill 2025, which was passed in Parliament by a majority voice vote after being debated by MPs today, seeks to, among others, establish a Whistleblower Protection Committee whose chairperson and members will be appointed by the government.
The bill stipulates that the committee will manage the execution of general powers held by enforcement agencies which supervise all matters relating to whistleblower protection.
ADSIn his debate, Wong Chen (Harapan-Subang) took issue with the government’s appointment of members to the committee, asserting that the matter “looks bad on a government with a Madani reformist agenda”.
“What’s the harm in letting the (law) minister appoint four (out of seven) members of the committee, while letting the rest come from academicians, the Bar Council and NGOs?
“I’m not against the government (and) I’m not opposing this bill, but we need to do better,” the backbencher said.
Hard to trust
Expressing similar sentiments, Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (PN-Masjid Tanah) pointed out that it would be difficult for the rakyat to put their trust in a committee whose members are appointed by the government.
Masjid Tanah MP Mas Ermieyati Samsudin“How are the rakyat supposed to believe in the committee if a minister can be the subject of a whistleblower’s complaints and still have the power to appoint committee members?
“This isn’t reformation - it’s just an illusion,” the Bersatu lawmaker said, noting that such powers are contrary to other nations which have established independent bodies on whistleblower protection.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said previously assured that as long as whistleblowers comply with the Act, protection will be provided for them regardless of who is incriminated in their claims.
Her statement came after PSM said whistleblowers go to the media as they fear being silenced, such as when allegations involve high-ranking figures. - Mkini

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