Many famous whistleblowers turned to the media first, govt told
Published: Feb 5, 2025 8:22 PM
Updated: 11:22 PM
Summary
Updated: 11:22 PM
Summary
- Kua Kia Soong emphasised the role of whistleblowers and the media in exposing corruption, criticising Malaysia’s requirement that whistleblowers report to authorities first for protection.
- He cited US examples like Mark Felt, Daniel Ellsberg, Chelsea Manning, and Edward Snowden, who exposed wrongdoing despite risks.
- His remarks followed the government’s refusal to amend the Whistleblower Protection Act to allow whistleblowers to approach the media.
Human rights activist Kua Kia Soong highlighted the key role that whistleblowers and the media have played in exposing government overreach and corruption.
This comes amid the Malaysian government’s insistence that whistleblowers should turn to the authorities first to be eligible for protection.
He noted that many famous whistleblowers have turned to the media to expose wrongdoing, often after complaints lodged through internal government channels proved futile, and at great risk to their lives and livelihood.
Kua (above) cited several examples from the US, namely FBI deputy director Mark Felt (also known by the codename “Deep Throat”), former defence analyst Daniel Ellsberg, US Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning, and the consultant Edward Snowden.
“The examples of these famous whistleblowers in modern American history show that if the Malaysian government, especially reformist Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, genuinely wants to expose corruption within the government, military, and police, and publicly address workplace safety issues in our country, they must encourage whistleblowers to report to government agencies while also disclosing their evidence to the media,” he said in a statement today.
Ellsberg had exposed the Pentagon Papers in 1971 on the true extent of American involvement and losses in the Vietnam War, while Felt had helped in 1972 to reveal then-US president Richard Nixon’s involvement in the Watergate Scandal.
This comes amid the Malaysian government’s insistence that whistleblowers should turn to the authorities first to be eligible for protection.
He noted that many famous whistleblowers have turned to the media to expose wrongdoing, often after complaints lodged through internal government channels proved futile, and at great risk to their lives and livelihood.
Kua (above) cited several examples from the US, namely FBI deputy director Mark Felt (also known by the codename “Deep Throat”), former defence analyst Daniel Ellsberg, US Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning, and the consultant Edward Snowden.
“The examples of these famous whistleblowers in modern American history show that if the Malaysian government, especially reformist Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, genuinely wants to expose corruption within the government, military, and police, and publicly address workplace safety issues in our country, they must encourage whistleblowers to report to government agencies while also disclosing their evidence to the media,” he said in a statement today.
Ellsberg had exposed the Pentagon Papers in 1971 on the true extent of American involvement and losses in the Vietnam War, while Felt had helped in 1972 to reveal then-US president Richard Nixon’s involvement in the Watergate Scandal.
Former US president Richard Nixon
Manning disclosed nearly 750,000 military and diplomatic documents to WikiLeaks on the US war in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2010 and was ultimately sentenced to jail, while Snowden exposed illegal mass surveillance by the US National Security Agency in 2013 and sought asylum in Russia.
Kua’s statement came after de facto law minister Azalina Othman Said told the Dewan Rakyat yesterday that the government has no plans to amend the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010’s stipulation that whistleblowers must first report alleged wrongdoings to enforcement agencies to be eligible for protection, rather than the media.
This is so that the agency can determine if the information given is essential and whether it should be classified under an older case or whether a new case should be opened, she explained, in response to a poser from Seputeh MP Teresa Kok.
Kok was asking about the whistleblower who exposed alleged corruption among Sabah assemblypersons to Malaysiakini.
Manning disclosed nearly 750,000 military and diplomatic documents to WikiLeaks on the US war in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2010 and was ultimately sentenced to jail, while Snowden exposed illegal mass surveillance by the US National Security Agency in 2013 and sought asylum in Russia.
Kua’s statement came after de facto law minister Azalina Othman Said told the Dewan Rakyat yesterday that the government has no plans to amend the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010’s stipulation that whistleblowers must first report alleged wrongdoings to enforcement agencies to be eligible for protection, rather than the media.
This is so that the agency can determine if the information given is essential and whether it should be classified under an older case or whether a new case should be opened, she explained, in response to a poser from Seputeh MP Teresa Kok.
Kok was asking about the whistleblower who exposed alleged corruption among Sabah assemblypersons to Malaysiakini.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said
The said whistleblower, a businessperson, had released a series of videos implicating assemblypersons supposedly in discussions about bribes to facilitate an application for a mining exploration licence.
Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor dismissed the allegations as attempts to destabilise his state government and tarnish its reputation.
Last month, MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki said the investigation into the scandal has been completed and investigation papers have been submitted to the deputy public prosecutor.
Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor dismissed the allegations as attempts to destabilise his state government and tarnish its reputation.
Last month, MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki said the investigation into the scandal has been completed and investigation papers have been submitted to the deputy public prosecutor.
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