Plans to amend the Official Secrets Act (OSA) to punish whistleblowers and journalists with life imprisonment would be regressive if true, warned MCA president Liow Tiong Lai.

"MCA is very concerned about the development of the issue. [...] This would be a backward step," he told Malaysiakini .

However, Liow, who is also transport minister, stressed that he had yet to see attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali's plans, and therefore reserved further judgement.

He also added that MCA Youth legal bureau chief Ng Kian Nam's statement - that the amendments would turn Malaysia into a communist state - should be respected.

"MCA Youth can express their view which represents the people's view.

"We need to ensure all levels (of leaders) can express their views and we should listen to their voice," Liow said.

Apandi's plans were met with brickbats from various quarters, including from Ng, who questioned the AG's plans to tighten the screws on whistleblowers instead of going after those guilty of graft and abuses that the leaks revealed.

At a press conference in Kuala Lumpur earlier, Liow said MCA would ensure that the amendments would benefit the nation and public.

"Well, I think we will listen to the views of everybody," he said when asked if action would be taken against Ng over his caustic remarks.

The transport minister was responding to Ng's comment on Apandi's announced plans to beef up the OSA, specifically targeting those who leak national secrets and journalists who report on them.

Liow was witnessing the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Shell Malaysia and the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety (Miros).

Under the MOU, Shell would grant Miros a sponsorship of RM450,000 to carry out its work.

The signing coincided with launch of the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP).

The iRAP aims to asses the quality of Malaysian roads, and how to improve it.

Liow said Malaysia aims to see 75 percent of its major roads enjoy a 3 out of 5 star rating by 2020.