KUALA LUMPUR: Rafizi Ramli was not protected under the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 during his arrest on April 5 this year, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nancy Shukri.
She said in a written reply to Lim Guan Eng (DAP-Bagan), that the Pandan Member of Parliament had disseminated infomation during the March 24 and March 28 press conferences.
"Him disclosing the information publicly had exposed his identity and therefore, he was not eligible to to be a protected informant under this Act.
"In this case, a person who wants to be an informant would have to fulfill the criteria under Section 6 of the Act to which; any information related misconduct would have to be reported straight to the enforcement agencies," she said.
Nancy said, in Section III Clause 7(1), an informant is provided with protection of confidential information such as identity, protection from civil and crime action as well as, protection for anyone closely connected to the informant.
Lim was asking the Prime Minister why Rafizi was not protected under the Whistleblower Protection Act when he was arrested.
Nancy added the Whistleblower Protection Act was approved by the Parliament on May 6, 2010 and was implemented on December 15, the same year.
"This act is to fight against corruption and any other wrongdoings that encourages and facilitates the disclosure of improper conduct in the public and private sectors," she said.
On April 8, Rafizi was charged in the Sessions and Magistrate's court with two offences under Section 8 of the Official Secrets Act 1972 and with criminal defamation, respectively.