Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali says his office is looking at imposing a heavier punishment on whistleblowers by amending the Official Secrets Act 1972. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, February 6, 2016. The attorney-general is considering changing laws about confidential government information by imposing a heavier punishment on those involved in leaking such secrets.
In an interview with Sinchew Daily, Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali said he was looking at amending the Official Secrets Act 1972 (OSA).
The Attorney-General’s Chambers was considering life imprisonment and 10 strokes of the cane as punishments, he told the Chinese-language paper.
“In some countries leaking official secrets is a serious offence such as China where it carries the death sentence.”
He added that these charges extended to journalists found protecting or refusing to disclose their sources.
“I am not joking. If I have 90% of evidence, I will charge the journalist, editor, assistant editor and editor-in-chief. I am serious, no kidding. We have had too many leaks,” he said.
In November last year, the Dewan Rakyat was told that the government would review its proposal to amend OSA.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Razali Ibrahim, in a written reply, said the act was aimed at upholding the government's integrity.
"Some documents are not supposed to be made public especially those that are still in discussion. The act of leaking confidential information will affect the government's administration and may even pose a threat to our security and economy," he said. – January 6, 2016.
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