21-04-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Bill to address delays in cases involving protected witnesses
KUALA LUMPUR: The Whistleblower Protection (Amendment) Act will be among the bills to be tabled at the upcoming Dewan Rakyat session.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said the amendment aims to strengthen protection mechanisms and ensure swift case resolutions involving key witnesses.
Azalina said this was to avoid prolonged delays in cases involving protected witnesses.
"There have been cases where witnesses under protection were kept for years without their cases being concluded. This is something with which I disagree.
"If someone is granted witness protection, it should be our priority to resolve the case as soon as possible. Otherwise, it doesn't make sense to categorise them under protection for an extended period," she said.
Azalina added that two other bills will also be tabled, relating to legal aid and the other on cross-border insolvency.
"The Legal Aid Bill is aimed at ensuring vulnerable groups receive the legal support they need, while the Cross-Border Insolvency Bill will address issues of abandoned assets involving foreign entities."
She added that the proposed insolvency law was part of Malaysia's effort to cooperate more effectively with Asean countries in managing corporate bankruptcies involving cross-border assets.
"I've visited several Asean countries to meet with their law ministers, and the responses have been positive.
