PETALING JAYA: Whistleblower protection is vital only after a probe proves the individual’s integrity, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister has made it clear that those entangled in corruption shouldn’t count on protection. He emphasised that for protection to be provided, there must first be a thorough probe by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to determine whether the individual is truly “clean”.
“For those who are clean, not involved in corruption, our policy demands that we give the person protection. But investigate first before doing that,” he told a press conference in Cairo, Egypt, where he was on an official visit, yesterday.
Last Saturday, a news portal reported eight video recordings of assemblymen from a state purportedly discussing sums ranging from hundreds of thousands to RM4mil in exchange for securing a state project with a businessman.
The businessman, believed to be linked to a mining company, is allegedly asking for the return of payments he made for a project he did not secure, according to sources.
The businessman, through his lawyer, had approached the news portal to highlight the issue after his lawyers sought whistleblower protection from the MACC.
Addressing claims that he had received a letter from the supposed whistleblower, Anwar clarified that he had not.
“No, I didn’t get the letter, I am currently in Cairo. But even if I had, I would have forwarded it to the MACC,” he said.
Anwar questioned the request for whistleblower protection before credibility is established.
Giving a hypothetical example, he said, “Imagine I stole RM1bil, then went to the MACC saying, ‘I want to be a whistleblower, can you protect me?’ Isn’t that a strange request?”
Anwar also responded to critics questioning his silence on the issue and his decision not to intervene.
“I find it strange that some people are asking why the PM isn’t giving the protection sought by the whistleblower,” he said, stressing that handling such matters is the responsibility of enforcement agencies.
“Do not use the PM’s position to seek protection,” he said.
Anwar also underscored the importance of respecting the investigative process, urging patience and caution.
“We must respect the process. We can’t simply rush it,” he said, adding that he gives full permission to enforcement agencies, including the MACC, to conduct any necessary investigations.
