Nazri: OSA enough to protect whistleblowers
The Star (9/5/08): The Government has no plans to enact a Freedom of Information Act or other laws to protect whistleblowers because the Official Secrets Act (OSA) is sufficient.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz told the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday that if there was a need to amend the OSA, the Cabinet could meet and decide on the matter.
Replying to a question from Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud (PAS – Kota Raja), Nazri added that the Anti-Corruption Agency would work with the Audit Department to tackle flaws in government agencies, especially in areas where corruption, abuse of power and fraud could occur.
To a supplementary question from Lim Kit Siang (DAP – Ipoh Timur), he said Barisan Nasional needed the cooperation of the opposition in its fight against graft.
Lim had criticised the government's lack of political will and commitment in the government's fight against corruption as those involved in 18 high-profile cases highlighted in 2004 remained unsolved. Although fighting graft remained a top priority as outlined in Barisan's 2004 manifesto, it was impossible for the objective to be achieved within a few years, replied Nazri.
He said that at the same time, the ACA would place emphasis on intelligence-based investigations, particularly on syndicated graft.
Providing statistics, Nazri said the ACA had charged 544 government officers and employees with various offences between 2003 and 2007.
Of the total, 436 were charged under the Anti-Corruption Act 1997 while 67 under the Criminal Procedure Code and other laws, and one under the Anti-Money Laundering Act 2001.
A total of 329 cases involved receiving and acquiring bribes under Section 10 (a) and 11 (a) of the Anti-Corruption Act. Nazri said the number included the police with 202 cases, local authorities 21 cases, Road Transport Department 12 cases, Customs Department 11, Land Office and Islamic Religious Department/Council nine each, Defence Ministry/ Armed Forces six, Education Department five, Works Department two, and Welfare Services Department one.
Nazri said there were 40 cases of abuse of power under Section 15 of the same Act, including 30 cases in the Education Department, two among police and one among the local authorities.
There were 103 cases involving the offence of furnishing documents containing false information under Section 11 (c) of the Act (17 cases involved the Education Department, seven the police force while the rest other departments); and four cases of giving and offering bribes under Section 10 (b) and 11 (b) of the Act.
To a supplementary question from Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi (BN – Batu Pahat), Nazri said the ACA was monitoring its own officers and would issue a letter to question those allegedly living beyond their means although it did not constitute a show-cause letter.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz told the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday that if there was a need to amend the OSA, the Cabinet could meet and decide on the matter.
Replying to a question from Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud (PAS – Kota Raja), Nazri added that the Anti-Corruption Agency would work with the Audit Department to tackle flaws in government agencies, especially in areas where corruption, abuse of power and fraud could occur.
To a supplementary question from Lim Kit Siang (DAP – Ipoh Timur), he said Barisan Nasional needed the cooperation of the opposition in its fight against graft.
Lim had criticised the government's lack of political will and commitment in the government's fight against corruption as those involved in 18 high-profile cases highlighted in 2004 remained unsolved. Although fighting graft remained a top priority as outlined in Barisan's 2004 manifesto, it was impossible for the objective to be achieved within a few years, replied Nazri.
He said that at the same time, the ACA would place emphasis on intelligence-based investigations, particularly on syndicated graft.
Providing statistics, Nazri said the ACA had charged 544 government officers and employees with various offences between 2003 and 2007.
Of the total, 436 were charged under the Anti-Corruption Act 1997 while 67 under the Criminal Procedure Code and other laws, and one under the Anti-Money Laundering Act 2001.
A total of 329 cases involved receiving and acquiring bribes under Section 10 (a) and 11 (a) of the Anti-Corruption Act. Nazri said the number included the police with 202 cases, local authorities 21 cases, Road Transport Department 12 cases, Customs Department 11, Land Office and Islamic Religious Department/Council nine each, Defence Ministry/ Armed Forces six, Education Department five, Works Department two, and Welfare Services Department one.
Nazri said there were 40 cases of abuse of power under Section 15 of the same Act, including 30 cases in the Education Department, two among police and one among the local authorities.
There were 103 cases involving the offence of furnishing documents containing false information under Section 11 (c) of the Act (17 cases involved the Education Department, seven the police force while the rest other departments); and four cases of giving and offering bribes under Section 10 (b) and 11 (b) of the Act.
To a supplementary question from Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi (BN – Batu Pahat), Nazri said the ACA was monitoring its own officers and would issue a letter to question those allegedly living beyond their means although it did not constitute a show-cause letter.
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