NGO call for protection of whistleblowers

PETALING JAYA: Opposition linked NGO has called for the protection of whistleblowers exposing corruption and fraud from documents protected by the Official Secrets Act (OSA) 1972.

Jingga 13 coordinator Faris Musa said Attorney-General Tan Sri Apandi Ali's proposal to strengthen the Official Secrets Act (OSA) 1972 to allow journalists to be charged for refusing to reveal theirs sources is unjust and deemed to support misappropriation in the country.

"As the AG, Apandi should thank, support and protect every expose made by whistleblowers, journalists and media editors,"

"The safety of whistleblowers should be a priority and the Attorney-General's chambers should investigate information that was revealed and charge the guilty party," Faris said in a statement.

He added Apandi's suggestion is 'autocratic' and urge every Malaysian to reject it.

Recently, Apandi said that he "will charge journalists, editors, assistant editors, and editors-in-chief who refuse the reveal their
sources", after what he claimed as the country having too many leakages of secrets.
The top prosecutor reportedly insisted that OSA can be used against journalists who protect their sources by invoking journalistic ethics, as the media personnel will then be considered as collaborating with a potential saboteur.