Latest news with #Act711
The Sun
5 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
MADANI legal reforms advance with key bills and motions passed
KUALA LUMPUR: The Madani government's legal and institutional reforms gained traction as five bills and two key motions were approved in the first week of the Dewan Rakyat sitting. Key changes include amendments to the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 and new penalties for minor littering offences. The Whistleblower Protection (Amendment) Bill 2025, designed to enhance safeguards for whistleblowers and improve misconduct reporting mechanisms, was passed via majority voice vote after debate by 24 MPs. Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform), emphasised the government's dedication to strengthening anti-corruption measures and integrity in both public and private sectors. She acknowledged that while Act 711 has been in place for over a decade, gaps remain that require attention. Three additional bills—Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing (Amendment) Bill 2025, Local Government (Amendment) Bill 2025, and Streets, Drainage and Building (Amendment) Bill 2025—aim to improve public cleanliness. Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming highlighted that community service orders will now supplement fines for littering offences, targeting items like cigarette butts, plastic waste, and food wrappers. Nga stressed the importance of fostering civic responsibility and environmental awareness to build a cleaner, more sustainable Malaysia. The Consumer Credit (Finance) Bill 2025 also passed, addressing regulatory gaps in the credit sector, particularly for vulnerable borrowers at risk of exploitation. Four other bills were tabled for first reading, including amendments to the Poisons Act and Fisheries Act. Two significant motions were approved: the Auditor-General's Report (LKAN) 2/2025 and SUHAKAM's 2023 Annual Report. These approvals underscore the government's commitment to transparency and human rights, reinforcing public trust through rigorous auditing and accountability. MPs praised the government's openness in presenting the LKAN report, calling it a progressive move enabling legislative scrutiny and policy improvements. Azalina noted that debating SUHAKAM's report strengthens democratic traditions by allowing MPs to assess human rights conditions and propose reforms. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim reiterated Malaysia's unwavering stance on Gaza and Middle East issues, including Iran, despite potential pressure from the US amid ongoing tariff negotiations. The parliamentary session will continue until Aug 28. - Bernama
Barnama
5 days ago
- Politics
- Barnama
MADANI Legal Reform Gains Momentum With Key Bills And Motions Passed
KUALA LUMPUR, July 25 (Bernama) -- The MADANI Government's legal and institutional reform agenda continues to gain momentum, with five bills and two key motions passed in the first week of the Dewan Rakyat sitting. It included amendments to the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 (Act 711) and the introduction of community service penalties for minor littering offences. The Whistleblower Protection (Amendment) Bill 2025, drafted to expand protection for whistleblowers and strengthen mechanisms for reporting misconduct, was passed by a majority voice vote following debate by 24 members of parliament. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform), Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, who tabled the Bill, reaffirmed the government's commitment to enhancing whistleblower protection as part of its anti-corruption efforts and drive to improve public and private sector integrity. She noted that although the Act 711 has been in force for over a decade, it still contains weaknesses that need to be addressed. Also drawing attention during this week's Dewan Rakyat proceedings were the passage of the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing (Amendment) Bill 2025, the Local Government (Amendment) Bill 2025, and the Streets, Drainage and Building (Amendment) Bill 2025, aimed at improving public cleanliness. Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming said the amendments seek to address the issue of minor littering, including cigarette butts, tissues, plastic, drink cans, and food wrappers, in public spaces and roads by introducing community service orders as an additional penalty to existing fines. Nga said the move is crucial to instill civic responsibility, raise public awareness and cultivate a culture of cleanliness, ultimately contributing to a cleaner, more sustainable Malaysia for the well-being of its people. Also passed was the Consumer Credit (Finance) Bill 2025, which was formulated to address significant gaps in the currently unregulated sector, particularly among businesses targeting vulnerable credit consumers who are susceptible to exploitation.
Barnama
6 days ago
- Politics
- Barnama
Amended Act 711 Signals Strong Political Will For Governance Reform
KUALA LUMPUR, July 24 (Bernama) -- Amendments to the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 (Act 711), passed by the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday, have been seen as a clear manifestation of the MADANI Government's political will to strengthen integrity, transparency, and accountability in national governance. Political analyst Prof Datuk Dr Sivamurugan Pandian described the move as a catalyst for institutional reform that could encourage more people to come forward and report misconduct, thereby reinforcing the existing legal framework. 'This clearly demonstrates the government's commitment to enhancing enforcement and safeguarding the rights of whistleblowers in line with practices in developed nations,' he told Bernama when contacted. He also stressed the importance of establishing robust audit and monitoring mechanisms to ensure the authenticity of disclosures and prevent misuse for personal or political gain. 'When trust in the system is established, more individuals will be willing to come forward without fear of repercussions,' said the lecturer of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) School of Social Sciences. Another analyst, Mujibu Abd Muis, described the amendments as a significant milestone, particularly the establishment of a Whistleblower Protection Committee to oversee the comprehensive implementation of the law. He noted that this new mechanism would reduce previous reliance on bureaucratic discretion by agencies such as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) or the National Audit Department. However, Mujibu cautioned that successful implementation would require more than just legal changes; it demands a cultural shift within the public administration. 'In an administrative culture that remains hierarchical and feudalistic, many still fear administrative or social retaliation. Legal reform alone won't suffice if the prevailing 'culture of silence' persists,' he said.
The Sun
23-07-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Authorities cannot threaten whistleblowers, Albert Tei urged to report
KUALA LUMPUR: Any individual who comes forward to provide information on any improper conduct cannot be blocked or threatened by any party, including the authorities. Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M. Kulasegaran said this was because the authorities should protect whistleblowers under the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 (Act 711). 'I have taken note of Albert Tei's lawyer today, regarding the allegation that Albert Tei had contacted the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) regarding a corruption scandal but was warned by MACC officers not to appear in public or he would face problems. 'This is a very serious allegation and is completely unacceptable... I would like to advise the individual named Albert Tei to immediately file a report regarding this issue with the Royal Malaysian Police and the MACC Complaints Committee under Section 15 of the MACC Act 2009 (Act 694) by naming the MACC officers involved in the allegation. 'I give full assurance that the MADANI Government will not compromise on issues of threats like these, and that stern action will be taken if the allegation is found to be true,' he said when winding up the debate on the Whistleblower Protection (Amendment) Bill 2025 in Parliament on Tuesday (July 22). The bill was later passed with a majority of votes in agreement after being debated by 24 Members of Parliament (MPs). During the debate on the bill, several MPs raised the issue of a media report today regarding a statement by Albert Tei's lawyer, Mahajoth Singh, who claimed that his client was warned by the MACC not to come forward before he exposed the mining scandal in Sabah. Regarding the Whistleblower Protection Committee in the amendment to the bill, Kulasegaran said the government would ensure that the committee's membership was free from conflicts of interest and of a high calibre. He said that among the proposed members would be parties with knowledge and expertise in the aspect of whistleblower protection, including non-governmental organisations (NGOs) or civil society organisations (CSOs), as well as academic experts. 'This will ensure independence, transparency, no conflict of interest, and checks and balances in the implementation of the committee. 'This Whistleblower Protection Committee is a stop-gap measure only, temporarily until a central agency is established, namely the Ombudsman Malaysia, which will take over the functions and duties of this committee with additional powers, including receiving complaints from whistleblowers covering improper and harmful conduct. 'The Ombudsman Malaysia will also monitor the results of investigations carried out by this enforcement agency, and any reporting to Parliament is very welcome for transparency purposes and will be implemented when the central agency is established,' he said, adding that standard operating procedures, including timelines will be detailed and set during the establishment of the Ombudsman Malaysia. Earlier, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said when tabling the bill for the second reading said that the Whistleblower Protection Committee is responsible for obtaining and coordinating statistics and data related to disclosures and complaints received by enforcement agencies. She said, however, that all statistics, data or information submitted to the committee cannot include any confidential information protected under Section 8, to ensure that there is no information leakage issue. 'This directly guarantees that the identity of the whistleblower remains protected as provided for in Section 6 of this act, thus ensuring that public confidence in the whistleblower protection system continues to be maintained,' she said. She added that statistics showed that from 2011 to 2023, a total of 74,614 complaints related to improper conduct were received and investigated, while 1,139 people were recognised as whistleblowers and given protection. The session continues today. - Bernama
Barnama
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Barnama
Authorities Cannot Threaten Whistleblowers, Albert Tei Asked To Make Report
KUALA LUMPUR, July 22 (Bernama) -- Any individual who comes forward to provide information on any improper conduct cannot be blocked or threatened by any party, including the authorities. Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M. Kulasegaran said this was because the authorities should protect whistleblowers under the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 (Act 711). 'I have taken note of Albert Tei's lawyer today, regarding the allegation that Albert Tei had contacted the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) regarding a corruption scandal but was warned by MACC officers not to appear in public or he would face problems. 'This is a very serious allegation and is completely unacceptable… I would like to advise the individual named Albert Tei to immediately file a report regarding this issue with the Royal Malaysian Police and the MACC Complaints Committee under Section 15 of the MACC Act 2009 (Act 694) by naming the MACC officers involved in the allegation. 'I give full assurance that the MADANI Government will not compromise on issues of threats like these, and that stern action will be taken if the allegation is found to be true,' he said when winding up the debate on the Whistleblower Protection (Amendment) Bill 2025 in Parliament today. The bill was later passed with a majority of votes in agreement after being debated by 24 Members of Parliament (MPs). During the debate on the bill, several MPs raised the issue of a media report today regarding a statement by Albert Tei's lawyer, Mahajoth Singh, who claimed that his client was warned by the MACC not to come forward before he exposed the mining scandal in Sabah. Regarding the Whistleblower Protection Committee in the amendment to the bill, Kulasegaran said the government would ensure that the committee's membership was free from conflicts of interest and of a high calibre. He said that among the proposed members would be parties with knowledge and expertise in the aspect of whistleblower protection, including non-governmental organisations (NGOs) or civil society organisations (CSOs), as well as academic experts.
