Recognition for informers

[Kanetsugu Naoe]

Monday November 29, 2010

Recognition for informers

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is considering recognition to civil servants that take action against bribe-givers as part of its campaign to promote awareness on corruption.

“In its efforts to undo the corrupt culture, civil servants that come forward to file report against those that abuse their position for personal gains, will be considered for a certificate of appreciation,” said MACC deputy chief commissioner (prevention) Datuk Sutinah Sutan.

“Civil servants are always reminded to refrain from accepting bribes. As for the public, they should be accountable for all their deeds and any attempts to bribe their way out may face consequences of being arrested and subsequent charges.

On conviction, they will be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the sum of the gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher.

Previously there was a common misconception that only those that accepted bribes would be arrested and charged. In actual fact, all three parties; bribe-giver, intermediary and receiver would have to face the same consequences ,” Sutinah said.

Further efforts to ensure the effectiveness of the campaign involved the Commission working together with government agencies and organising public talks. The MACC welcomes all parties to participate and help in the fight against corruption.

 

[Kanetsugu Naoe]

Protection for informers from Dec 15


Tuesday November 30, 2010

Protection for informers from Dec 15

KUALA LUMPUR: The Whistleblower Protection Act 2010, formulated to curb corruption, will be implemented on Dec 15, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Idris Jala. He added an announcement would be made on Dec 6.

Idris said the Act, that was passed by Parliament in May, was developed according to the best practices of the same act in other countries such as the United Kingdom and United States.

“The experience in the US and Europe was that corruption began to decline (after the implementation of a Whistleblower Act) because it is a big deterrent. What is important is that the public knows the Act is there. We also have a Witness Protection Act too,” he said.

Under the Act, if anyone finds he or she has evidence on someone else who has committed a corrupt practice, the whistleblower can file a complaint against that individual. “The whistleblower clearly will be protected in terms of confidentiality,” he said.

Asked whether the whistleblower would be rewarded, he said there had been a proposal to do so but had yet to be discussed. “We are only beginning with protection. Most countries just do this and do not reward. But we are looking into the possibility of having a reward mechanism,” he added.

When tabling Budget 2010 in Parliament in October last year, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced that a Whistleblower Protection Act would be formulated to encourage informers to expose corrupt practices and other misconduct.

Najib said that the move would provide immunity to informers from civil or criminal charges. The formulation of the Whistleblower Protection Act was among the measures taken in the implementation of the National Key Result Areas (NKRA) to eliminate corruption. — Bernama