A PKR Youth leader says businessman Albert Tei, who is facing corruption charges in Sabah, cannot be allowed to hide behind the status of “whistleblower”.
In a statement, PKR Youth information chief Danish Hairudin said the attempt by Tei to claim “whistleblower” status was not only immoral and hypocritical, but also an insult to the nation’s efforts to combat corruption.
“Tei himself admitted that he had paid large sums in bribes, then later leaked information supposedly as evidence,” Danish said.
“To give bribes on a massive scale and then emerge as a ‘whistleblower’ is not an act of courage, but a betrayal of the law and the nation’s integrity.
“The one who lights the fire cannot pretend to be the saviour from the blaze.”
Tei is currently standing trial on two charges of giving a total of RM350,000 in bribes related to mineral prospecting licence applications in Sabah to two assemblymen.
He had earlier sought whistleblower status from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), but the request was denied on grounds that he does not qualify for protection under the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010.
MACC senior director (legal and prosecution) Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin said whistleblowers cannot be involved in the offence they report, citing the revocation of protection if they are found complicit under Section 11(1) of the Act.
He also said the law requires whistleblowers to act in good faith, without motives such as revenge, personal gain, or defamation.
Danish stressed that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and the government have consistently upheld the principles of justice and transparency.
He said the public must not be given the impression that bribe-givers can walk free simply because they come forward with information after the fact.
“I call on the rakyat to reject any attempt to undermine the integrity of the Madani government by manipulating this issue for certain political interests.
“The rakyat deserve to see justice upheld in full, with no room for anyone to manipulate the legal system,” he added.
