COMMENT | Whistleblowers must be genuinely protected

COMMENT | Some weeks ago, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law) Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar informed Parliament that amendments to the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 ("WPA") are being studied and evaluated by the government, and will be tabled to the Cabinet next month.

The minister told Parliament that there had been 73,545 complaints received under the Act since 2011, but only 527 of those complainants received protection under Act 711.

"This is a very small percentage of those who have received protection, and it either shows flaws in the enforcement of the law, or actual weaknesses in its legal framework and provisions, and that is why we are currently studying amendments to the Act," he was quoted to have said.

According to him, there are seven issues in the WPA which have been identified and will be improved. He cited, amongst others, several sections which are being studied.

While these reviews are timely and much needed, it is hoped that the government will truly have the political will...