KUALA LUMPUR (May 14): The government plans to channel all whistleblower complaints through a single Ombudsman institution, in a move aimed at plugging information leaks and strengthening protection for whistleblowers.
The proposed system would make the Ombudsman the sole receiving point for disclosures once it is established, said Nur Faiza Iskak, principal assistant director at the Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister’s Department.
“This will be the countermeasure for us to control and avoid leakage of information, especially of the disclosure of complaints,” she said during a roundtable discussion with business chambers of commerce on Thursday.
Currently, whistleblower complaints are typically lodged directly with multiple enforcement agencies, each operating under its own laws.
Nur Faiza acknowledged concerns over the existing whistleblower protection framework, saying whistleblowers may face retaliation and a “trust deficit” due to fears that their identities could be exposed.
Under the proposal, the Ombudsman would filter disclosures before referring cases for investigation. Enforcement agencies would receive only information related to alleged corruption or misconduct, without whistleblower details.
Enforcement agencies would only investigate when necessary, while the Ombudsman would also be empowered to conduct investigations under the proposed law, she said.
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