By Danial Dzulkifly
KUALA LUMPUR, July 21 — The government will soon establish a dedicated oversight committee to monitor whistleblower protections and disclosures under proposed amendments to the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 (Act 711).
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said the move, part of the first phase of the government’s legal reform agenda, aims to strengthen enforcement oversight and restore public trust in institutional integrity.
“The proposed committee will supervise the implementation of this Act by enforcement agencies and compile statistics and data related to disclosures and complaints made,” she said during the question-and-answer session in Parliament today.
Azalina also issued a cautionary reminder against whistleblowers turning to the media before lodging official reports, warning that doing so could compromise investigations and potentially breach national security protocols.
“We do not encourage whistleblowers to go straight to the media. One reason is to prevent abuse of the system, and another is to protect national secrets, especially in matters of national security,” she said.
“If they go to the media, it creates a situation of trial by media, where the public, not the courts, determine guilt. That is not fair to our legal system.”
She was responding to a supplementary question by Ayer Hitam MP Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong, who asked how the government would ensure the oversight committee remains independent and free from executive interference, particularly in high-profile cases.
Azalina said the second phase of reforms would explore the establishment of an independent ombudsman to ensure greater transparency and accountability in handling whistleblower disclosures.
She also confirmed that the study on the separation of powers between the Attorney General’s Chambers and public prosecution has been completed and will be presented to the Cabinet soon.
“We want to guarantee that when it comes to prosecution, there is no pressure or external interference.”
The second reading of the amendment bill to Act 711 is scheduled to be tabled in Parliament tomorrow.
