Latest news with #WongChen
The Star
19 hours ago
- Politics
- The Star
Erasing record of non-violent or minor offences under study
AN amendment to expunge the record of individuals convicted of non-violent or minor offences after a reasonable period is being mulled, says Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. He said the ministry is currently in the process of amending the Registration of Criminals and Undesirable Persons Act 1969 (Act 7). The Act serves as a legal authority to register individuals who have been convicted of offences listed in the First and Second Schedules of Act 7 in the criminal register. 'The proposed amendments have been agreed upon in principle by the Cabinet on May 21. 'Among them is the introduction of a 'spent' mechanism, allowing individuals who have not committed new offences within a reasonable period to be considered as having 'no record' in the criminal register,' he said. He was responding to a question by Wong Chen (PH-Subang) who had asked whether the government is considering erasing the records of those convicted for non-violent or minor offences. Saifuddin Nasution said the legal reform will provide a second chance to those previously convicted to enable them to pursue opportunities such as employment and further education.
The Star
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Home Ministry mulls striking out minor, non-violent offences from criminal record after set period
KUALA LUMPUR: An amendment to expunge individuals convicted for non-violent or minor offences after a reasonable period is being mulled, says Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. The Home Minister said that the ministry is currently in the process of amending the Registration of Criminals and Undesirable Persons Act 1969 (Act 7). The Act serves as a legal authority to register individuals who have been convicted of offences listed in the First and Second Schedules of Act 7 in the criminal register. 'The proposed amendments have been agreed upon in principle by the Cabinet on May 21. 'Among the proposed amendments is the introduction of a "spent" mechanism, allowing individuals who do not commit new offences within a reasonable period to be considered as having 'no record' in the criminal register,' he said in a written parliamentary reply on Thursday (July 24). He was responding to a question by Wong Chen (PH-Subang) who had asked whether the government is considering erasing the criminal records of those convicted for non-violent or minor offences. Saifuddin said that the legal reform would provide a second chance for those previously recorded. He added that this would enable them to pursue opportunities such as employment and further education, both domestically and internationally. 'The process of amending this law will take into account the views of various stakeholders through ongoing and future engagement sessions before the proposed amendments are tabled in Parliament,' he added.
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Govt mulls expunging minor criminal records
KUALA LUMPUR: The Home Ministry is considering legal reforms that could allow individuals convicted of minor, non-violent offences to have their criminal records expunged after demonstrating good behaviour for a reasonable period following their release. In a written reply to Subang member of parliament Wong Chen, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the ministry is in the process of amending the Registration of Criminals and Undesirable Persons Act 1969 (Act 7), which governs the listing of individuals convicted of offences in the criminal registry. He said the cabinet had agreed in principle to the proposed amendments on May 21 this year. "One of the key proposals is the introduction of a 'spent' mechanism, which allows individuals who do not commit any new offences within a reasonable timeframe to be considered as having no criminal record in the registry," Saifuddin said. "This move is aimed at giving deserving individuals a second chance at life, including opportunities to gain employment or pursue further education, whether locally or abroad," he added. He said stakeholder engagement sessions are ongoing and will continue to be held before the proposed amendments are tabled in parliament.
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
MPs raise concern over whistleblower bill amendments
MPs expressed concern in the Dewan Rakyat today over the effectiveness of the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 in protecting those who spoke out publicly. (Bernama pic) KUALA LUMPUR : Opposition and government MPs have called for better amendments to the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010, warning that the current draft lacks teeth and could enable political interference. Wong Chen (PH-Subang) said he supported the bill in principle but described it as 'not very substantive'. He said that whistleblowers should be allowed to report wrongdoing beyond just the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) or the police, especially since misconduct could involve enforcement agencies themselves. 'In developed countries like the UK, France, and Sweden, whistleblowers have the option to report to the media. 'The bill should be amended to protect whistleblowers who go to the media or MPs,' he said when debating the bill in the Dewan Rakyat. He also questioned the independence of the proposed whistleblower protection committee, whose members would be appointed solely by the minister. 'At least four could be appointed by the minister, and the remaining three should be appointed by NGOs or the Bar Council. Otherwise, it looks bad on the government with a reform agenda,' he said. Meanwhile, Mumtaz Md Nawi (PN-Tumpat) raised concerns about enforcement, asking how many whistleblowers emerged during the 1MDB case and whether they were adequately protected. Doris Sophia Brodi (GPS-Sri Aman) welcomed the bill as 'a step forward and brave' but warned that it should not become just a data collection mechanism. Tabling the bill earlier, law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said said the amendments aimed to make it easier for whistleblowers to come forward, ensure disclosures were properly handled, and offered stronger protection against retaliation. She cited international models from the UK, Australia and New Zealand, where whistleblowers were protected even when disclosing confidential information, if done in the public interest. From 2011 to 2023, 74,614 complaints in Malaysia were investigated, but only 1,139 individuals were formally recognised and protected as whistleblowers, she said. 'We must create a safer environment so that more people are willing to come forward without fear of legal or physical repercussions,' she said.
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
MP calls for wider reporting avenues to protect whistleblowers
KUALA LUMPUR: Whistleblowers must be given the option to report to bodies other than the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, the police, or other authorities, said Subang member of parliament Wong Chen He said this was because corruption also involved the authorities themselves. "What happens if the authorities do not take any action? What is being proposed is that complaints should also be allowed to be submitted to other parties," he said when debating the Whistleblower Protection (Amendment) Bill 2025 in Dewan Rakyat today. He said in more democratically advanced countries like the United Kingdom, France and Sweden, whistleblowers are allowed to report to the media if no appropriate action is taken by the authorities. "As such, an amendment needs to be made to protect whistleblowers who courageously submit complaints to the media. I also believe it should be extended to members of parliament. "This failure to do this is what we saw in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd case, not just in the recent cases in Sabah." He also said that protection for whistleblowers must also be given for the disclosure of corruption or abuse of power, even if the matter falls under the Official Secrets Act. "The greater good must prevail." He said the policy issue concerning the regulatory body for whistleblowers is that it should be independent and not under the control of the executive; "Accountable to Parliament, like an ombudsman body. "In this bill, these three key policy issues have not been addressed. I'm not opposing the bill, but I just want to say… You have to do more." Yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said whistleblowers should report through official channels, not the media, saying bypassing procedures risks national security and prosecution. She said this in reply to Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong (BN-Ayer Hitam) during the oral question-and-answer session in Dewan Rakyat. Wee asked about the government's decision to amend the definition of eligible whistleblowers under the law, so that restrictive conditions or criteria cannot be used as grounds to exclude them from protection under the Whistleblower Protection Act.
