The Witness Protection Bill 2010 was tabled for its first reading earlier this month but since then, it has continuously receive a lot of flak with professionals doubting how efficient it would be in practice.

NONE Centre of Public Policy Initiatives director Lim Teck Ghee (right) , for one, said he was concerned that politics and political bureaucracy would negate the good points in the bill.

"Until we see a holistic and comprehensive reform in key institutions such as the attorney general chambers, the Malaysia Anti Corruption Commission, the police and the judiciary, whoever is attempting to blow the whistle against individuals and agencies may feel they are the ultimate loser in an uneven playing field.

"This may hamper people from coming forward to report such abuses," he told Malaysiakini .

Lim questioned why the authorities are watering down some of the provisions when there are examples of better witness protection bills from other foreign countries.

Lawyer H Dipendra also agreed with Lim, that the bill should have emulated similar legislation from countries like the US.

He also questioned the efficacy of the draft, as Clause 6(1) does not provide any immunity or protection to an informant if he or she revealed documents protected under the Official Secrets Act 1972.

"The bill would only be successful if total protection is provided to the whistle blower."

Commenting on the protection given to the informants under the current draft, he said mere immunity from the civil and criminal action together with protection of confidential information is insufficient.

Dipendra said the movement or the mobility of a person should also be protected as the informant could not remain idle at one place.

"The United States Whistleblowers Protection Act, which is one of the best, provides new identities and relocation to the whistleblower and the family. Such protection should have been included.

"Thorough research should be carried out. There is no rush in implementing the law, so, the parties involved should take their time to patch the holes in the draft," he added.

No total protection

Selangor Community Awareness Association (Empower) executive director Maria Chin Abdullah welcomed the introduction of the bill.

klscah launch civil society award 191207 maria chin abdullah "However my biggest frustration is that total protection is not provided to the informant," she added.

She emphasised that a new identity and relocation in terms of a different neighbourhood are vital to protect the informant.

Like Lim and Dipendra, Maria (left) also agreed the bill will not be successful until the enforcement agencies are ‘clean' in their operations.

She said people's trust in the police is so low now, that, no one is confident enough to come forward to disclose any information.

Saying that the identity of a whistle blower should be kept confidential, she was also concerned about the enforcement agency leaking out information on the whistle blower.

On April 9, Malaysiakini reported that some parties still felt the bill, which had been tabled for its first reading three days ago lacked the necessary punch to be as effective as possible in the battle against graft.