Whistle-blowers should use proper channels to expose any wrongdoing - IGP

Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar says whistle-blowers who expose alleged wrongdoings cannot be protected by the law, if they trumpeted the matter through the media.

He made the statement via his Twitter account today, following the home ministry's three-month suspension of The Edge Weekly and The Edge Financial Daily, beginning July 27.

He said the act of trumpeting the so-called 'true revelations' of any wrongdoing through the media would only invite misunderstanding, incorrect perception and chaos.

Khalid said the country's law only protected whistle-blowers who used proper channels, and the police would not allow the public to be misled by people with ulterior motives.

"Whistle Blowers are surely protected under Malaysian laws, provided they come in the proper way, legally @PDRMsia welcomes genuine WBlowers," he tweeted.

Khalid in his subsequent tweet said; "Trumpheting' so-called 'true revelations' thru the media will only invite misunderstanding, incorrect perception and chaos. @PDRMsia."

Yesterday, home ministry secretary-general, Datuk Alwi Ibrahim cited three reasons for the suspension, including the headings and reporting by the two publications, which had raised questions and created negative public perceptions towards 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and also implicated the government and national leaders.

The Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 is aimed at giving protection to the whistleblower in the form of confidentiality of their information, immunity from civil and criminal action and protection from detrimental action being taken against them.

The act was passed by Parliament in June 2010, and was brought into force on Dec 15, 2010.