'Set up a royal commission of inquiry, then we'll give you the VK Lingam tape whistleblowers.'

This remark was made by PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail today in light of the Anti-Corruption Agency's notice to jail two party workers if they refuse to reveal the sources of the infamous video.

"The ACA should be after the offenders in the videotape, and not the messengers or the whistleblowers.

"Unfortunately, this latest action allows the ACA to be perceived as yet another tool of the government, protecting those who are corrupt instead of victims of corruption," she said.

Yesterday, party vice-president R Sivarasa ( photo ) and party staff Sim Tze Tzin were both served notices to reveal the source of the video that has rocked the nation's judicial system.

The grainy eight-minute video showing senior lawyer Lingam apparently brokering the appointment of 'friendly' judges with Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim in 2002 was released to the public by PKR three weeks ago.

Both Sivarasa and Sim have been interviewed by ACA over the video where it was revealed that two whistleblowers, dubbed Mr X and Mr Y, were involved in the video.

Meanwhile, the party's de factor leader Anwar Ibrahim is currently being quizzed by the agency.

A crucial legislation

Wan Azizah stressed that the party will go out of its way to protect, not just the two party members, but any member of public who has information on corruption and the misuse of powers.

"We will stand by these two men and the source of the videotape, and my party will never compromise any source with information on corruption to the authorities, until immunity is guaranteed for the whistleblowers.

"In this case of the 'Lingam tape', the source will only surface at a royal commission of inquiry," she stated.

The Permatang Pauh member of parliament also said the party will be initiating discussions with other political parties and civil society to come out with a whistleblower's legislation in Malaysia.

"We have been talking about having a Whistleblowers Act for many years now, but this has been cast aside by the government who claims whistleblowers will be protected.

"It is clear that this is not true, and the time has come for us to begin work on this crucial piece of legislation," she added.

SPECIAL REPORT: The Lingam tape