The suspension of Baitulmal Professional Institute (BPI) chief executive officer Syed Omar Syed Agil for alerting the authorities to corruption in the organisation should be a wake-up call that current whistleblower protection laws are inadequate, said the National Whistleblowers and Oversight (NOW).

"Such cases only strengthen NOW's call for a comprehensive amendment to the Whistleblowers Protection Act 2010 to be able to truly protect informants," NOW director Akmal Nasir said in a statement today.

Syed Omar was on Sept 29, 2015 slapped with a show-cause letter, the same day when the MACC directed a search and seizure at the BPI premises based on his information.

Prior to that, Syed Omar had alerted his employer about financial irregularities in the institute, which is 70 percent owned by the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council (Maiwp), and later the MACC and police.

He is now seeking an injunction at the Kuala Lumpur High Court against his suspension.

"The legal process that Syed Omar must face in defence of his rights, highlights the risk any individuals who want to come forward with information face.

"Even a chief executive officer is not free from pressure and threats," said Akmal.

Akmal called for a thorough investigation into Syed Omar's report and for the authorities to inform the public about the progress of the investigation.