KUALA LUMPUR: Limiting protection to only those deemed "clean" may discourage potential whistleblowers from coming forward, said an MCA Youth leader.
MCA Youth secretary-general Saw Yee Fung said protection should be available to anyone providing credible information, regardless of their personal background, as long as they acted with integrity and did not try to conceal their own misconduct.
"A fair and transparent investigative process is crucial to ensure justice and maintain the integrity of the whistleblowing system.
"Those who misuse the system must be held accountable, but the focus should remain on protecting genuine whistleblowers from retaliation.
"Ultimately, we must respect the investigative process and allow enforcement agencies to carry out their work without interference. Trust in the system is essential to ensure that all parties are held accountable fairly and justly," she said in a statement today.
Previously, Malaysiakini reported that several assemblymen have been caught on tape discussing bribes in exchange for obtaining project licences in a state.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim reaffirmed his zero-tolerance stance on corruption, saying he would not protect anyone involved in such activities.
He added that this also applied to those who might try to evade arrest by becoming whistleblowers.
However, Saw said, determining if a whistleblower was "clean" without any background checks was subjective, superficial and open to selective or discriminatory treatment.
She added that whistleblowers should be protected by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) as long as they can act in good faith.
"Early protection is essential to encourage others to come forward with information. However, the protection should not be misused.
"If MACC conducts a proper background check and verifies the whistleblower's credibility, then protection is justified and aligns with the spirit of the Whistleblower Protection Act.
"On the other hand, if a whistleblower is found to be dishonest or acting with ulterior motives, appropriate legal action should be taken."
On Saturday, MACC urged the individual with video recordings of state assemblymen discussing bribes to file an official complaint with the agency.
Its chief commissioner, Tan Sri Azam Baki, said the agency could offer protection under the Whistleblower Protection Act, but the individual would need to come forward and follow due procedures.