Gov't to enact whistle blower protection law

The government will enact a Whistle Blower Act - which provides informers immunity to civil or criminal action - in a bid to combat corruption.

Set to be introduced next year, the new law is aimed at encouraging informers to disclose graft, said Finance Minister Najib Abdul Razak ( left, in blue ) during the Budget 2010 speech.

Other graft-busting efforts include the establishment of 14 ‘Special Corruption sessions Courts' and four ‘Special Corruption Appeal High Courts'.

However, no time frame is specified for the establishment of these courts.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) would also be made to organise international conferences on combating corruption, organising public awareness campaigns and improving public relations efforts.

In announcing this, Najib, who is also Prime Minister, said combating corruption forms an important key-performance for the government.

"This effort aims at enhancing confidence and public perception, eliminating corruption among enforcement and public officers, as well as ensuring Government Procurement processes and procedures are adhered to," he said.

He adds that theses measures would ensure the country is better ranked in the annual Transparency Internal's Corruption Perception Index.

Malaysia has been slipping down the rankings over the years - from 36th in 2001 to 47th in 2008 - but government officials have been quick to dismiss the group's findings.

Opposition parties and many civil society groups have long been urging the government to enact a Whistle Blower Act which they believe will encourage more reports against corrupt government practices.

The law was supposed to be passed last year during the helm of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi ( right ) but the matter had been dormant since.

Najib's budget speech