YOURSAY ‘The very act of whistleblowing is to alert the public on wrongdoing.’

Whistle quietly if you want protection, says IGP

Kim Quek: And even after the massive heist of 1MDB has exploded, Mr IGP (inspector-general of police), you still haven’t shed your image as a selective law enforcer when you seem to be unduly obsessed with fixing the whistleblowers, while completely oblivious to the elephant in the room, who should be the chief target of your hunting expedition.

So, Khalid Abu Bakar, spare us the nonsense about “genuine whistleblowers” and the “trouble-making whistleblowers.”

This BN government is so notorious for selective investigation and selective prosecution that only a fool would whisper high corruption of BN to the ears of any law-enforcing authority. 

Former opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim had as far back as 2011 in Parliament alleged the “shady” PetroSaudi deal as nothing but a scam to channel what he described as “slush fund for BN cronies.”

Similar complaints and allegations have been made on the hanky-panky that had been going in 1MDB inside and outside Parliament throughout these years, and what had the BN leadership or its law-enforcing agencies done?

Only stupid answers or non-answers from ministers and complete silence from MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) and police as if they are deaf and blind.

Oh Ya?: Mr IGP, are police reports lodged on this mother of all scandals considered whistleblowing quietly? Have the law enforcement agencies taken any action other than harassing the whistleblowers?

Can you blame the whistleblowers going public when they know very well the so-called independent institutions are actually the ruling elite's lackeys who wouldn't be able to deliver them the justice?

7888888: Under the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010, informants are not allowed to reveal their information to the media if they are to qualify for protection.

Hang Babeuf: Translation - Whistleblowers are protected so long as they don't blow their whistles.

They may tap their whistles quietly on a table in the near proximity of a Special Branch or Bukit Aman officer, who will then make sure that the whistle is confiscated - and the person warned and restrained.

A brief visit to a government-appointed dentist may be required to make sure that the person's mouth is suitably modified to prevent any future whistling.

Quigonbond: The law should be amended (there are many statutes with such protection clause now) so that if someone has provided a report to the authorities but faces inaction, they should continue to be accorded protection under the Whistleblower Protection Act if they then go on to publicise the alleged transgression.

This will prevent the authorities from sweeping the matter under the carpet.

Magnus: The Whistleblower Protection Act is not the real problem. The real problem is total system failure and zero trust in any of Malaysian public authority.

Moreover, we have no real free press in Malaysia that enables whistleblowers to turn to in full confidence to expose wrongdoings in the public or private sector.

And we don't also have an independent judiciary that is trusted to act impartially so whistleblowers and journalists are protected on any public interest disclosures they make.

Wg321: When there is a change of government, we should replace the "whispering" Whistleblower Protection Act, with a new “Loudspeaker Act” in order to protect loudspeakers like MP Tony Pua and Rafizi Ramli. They are the real heroes because even the deaf can hear them.

SteveOh: Whistleblowers are not government informers and the Whistleblowers Protection Act ought to offer all whistleblowers impunity from prosecution, not just those who don't expose the allegations of wrongdoing in the media.

When the law on whistleblowing was enacted, it should not have inserted provisos that restrict whistleblowing. Why should the government be afraid of the media?

This stealthy approach in governance is not good for transparency and will deter people from spilling the beans on wrongdoings. Hypothetically, how do you expect a whistleblower to go to the police if the whistleblowing is on police corruption?

To protect whistleblowing, there must be no conditions imposed on the whistleblower and the onus is on the authorities to verify what is being reported.

I say, change the law to protect all whistleblowers who go to the media to expose wrongdoings. Only wrongdoers should fear expose, not law-abiding citizens, especially those in government.

Basically: Yes, Steve Oh is right, the very act of whistleblowing is to alert the public on some wrongdoing.     

Rojak: In his wisdom, could the IGP please specify the standard procedure for ‘legal’ whistleblowing then?

I'm sure it won't involve going directly to the parties under suspicion so that they can arrange a commission of enquiry that reports to themselves alone while threatening the arrest of the person who blew the whistle.

If we whistle silently, M’sia will go to the dogs

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