Malaysian journalists criticize proposal to increase punishment for whistleblowers
Pic: TonTonic / Shutterstock.com
by -10th February 2016
THE Malaysian Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) is said to be looking into strengthening the punishment for those found guilty of leaking official secrets, causing an uproar among the journalism community here.
Attorney-General Mohamed Apandi Ali revealed his intentions Saturday in an interview with local Chinese newspaper Sin Chew Daily, adding that it was a result of the increase in cases of official secrets being leaked to journalists, who often reported quoting ‘sources’.
He had said the AGC was contemplating amending the Official Secrets Act 1972 (OSA) to crack down on those who leak government secrets, including civil servants, members of the public and journalists who refuse to reveal their sources.
The amendments being considered would include an increased punishment of life imprisonment and 10 strokes of the cane for those found guilty under the Act.
“An assault against freedom of expression.”
Currently, the punishment for leaking official secrets is one to seven years’ imprisonment.
“We may charge journalists who refuse to reveal their sources. If I obtain 90 percent of evidence, I will charge the journalist, editor, assistant editor and editor-in-chief. I am serious, no kidding. We have too many cases of secrets being leaked in Malaysia,” he said.
Mohamed Apandi focused on journalists in particular, saying those who claimed journalistic ethics to protect their sources could be considered as collaborators with potential saboteurs, and that this practice would endanger the country’s security.
Media practitioners have since slammed the attorney-general’s comments, with many viewing the proposal as an attempt to intimidate journalists and their sources.
