PKR’s Balik Pulau parliamentarian says the three individuals known as ‘Datuk T’ cannot be protected under the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010.

Shooting down the statement by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohd Nazri abdul Aziz, Yusmadi Yusoff said the Dewan Rakyat had been told that individuals or groups involved in exposés via the media are not eligible for protection.

uthayakumar high chaparral 040709 yusmadi Citing a Hansard excerpt dated April 20, 2010, Yusmadi (right) pointed out that it was Nazri’s own deputy, Liew Vui Keong, who had explained that informers can only ask for protection if the information is given to an enforcement agency recognised under the Act.

The Hansard further quotes Liew as saying that, even if an informer had given such information to an enforcement agency, the protection afforded by the Act would be lost if the informer were to spread  the information to the media.

“This clearly shows a conflict in statements between the ( de facto ) law minister (Nazri) and his deputy. The deputy minister’s explanation is on exactly the same situation as this (sex video exposé),” Yusmadi told a press conference in the Parliament lobby.

Nazri had said the ‘Datuk T’ trio - former Malacca Chief Minister Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik, businessman Shazryl Eskay Abdullah and Perkasa treasurer-general Shuib Lazim - are eligible for protection under the Witness Protection Act and Whistleblower Protection Act should there be a case.

However since then, Nazri has changed his stand. In an SMS alert to a local daily today, he said: "'Datuk T' cannot get protection under the Whistleblower Act, as they had already revealed themselves."

'Why defend the trio?'

Yusmadi also questioned the manner in which the sex video scandal is being played out in the public sphere, saying that PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim is being painted as a suspect in a case where the identity of the suspect and victim have not even been established.

azlan “There are three police reports against Datuk T, including under the Cinematography Act and for threatening Anwar and PKR president Dr Wan Azizah (Wan Ismail). Why is it they suddenly need to defend Datuk T?” he asked.

“In this case, this (exposé) is not accidental or impulsive. It was well planned and they called not just another journalist, they called the editors. They (Datuk T) should be investigated.

“At this point I think they should be the suspects... in no way will we find the truth if they are protected.”

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