• About Us
    • Fact Checking Policy
    • Ownership & funding information
    • Volunteer
  • Subscribe
  • Letter submission
    • Submissions Policy
  • Contact Us
The Online Citizen Asia
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Singapore
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Politics
    • Civil Society
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Singapore
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Politics
    • Civil Society
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
No Result
View All Result
The Online Citizen Asia
No Result
View All Result

The need for whistleblowers to be protected by law and authorities

by onlinecitizen
15/07/2016
in Commentaries
Reading Time: 5 mins read
0

Image of whistle with zipper from Shutterstock.com

By Ghui

The relentless growth of capitalism and large corporations has had far reaching effects in job creation and globalisation. While there are certainly many benefits that stem from this, it has also led to the rise of undesirable side effects such as corruption and greed.

When there are large sums of money to be made, there may be the increased temptation to abuse processes and procedures so as to reap personal gain. Many a time, the perpetrators of such corruption would be in positions of power whereby they can benefit from not just the added information they would possess by virtue of their elevated positions of power but also by their ability to intimidate or bribe others from spilling the beans.

While Singapore generally enjoys a reputation of being corruption free, it is certainly not immune. In recent years, quite a number of high flyers in government related agencies have been done for corruption.

In many of these cases, it would appear that the perpetrators have been abusing their positions of power for years without being caught. Is this because their co workers did not suspect the offences or is it because no one dared to speak up due to fear?

Singapore is not a country well known for investigative journalism. Journalists are not encouraged to dig around for news. Indeed, there have been reports and rumours of OB* markers put in place by the mainstream media over certain topics. Independent bloggers such as Roy Ngerng, who have sought to do their own digging at sensitive topics, have found themselves on the wrong side of the law.

If journalists are not able to fulfil the role of exposing corrupt individuals, it is left to those who unwittingly find themselves a part of corruption to expose all. However, if such a whistle blower is faced with the prospect of losing his or her own livelihood, he or she may never speak up which will in turn lead to many more years of abuse.

In many cases of corruption, it is the public that suffers. Take for instance, the recent damaged tracks that were imported by the SMRT. The danger that this could potentially have caused to thousands of commuters were kept secret from Singaporeans and it was the work of foreign journalists that actually exposed this boo boo. (Read report by FactWire here)

In order for the faux pas to have been covered up, a large number of employees would have to have been involved. Were they comfortable with the secrecy? Did they want to come forward? We shall never know.

However, a lack of adequate protection for the whistle blower would not have been an incentive for employees to come forward especially if they would be faced with the sack and no legal redress.

Most Multi National Corporations (MNCs) and government agencies would have company policies on whistle blowing. However; these are just company policies that do not have the bite of the law. Company policies are managed and controlled by employees of the company who may themselves fear rocking the boat. To ensure that the whistle blower feels entirely safe to tell the whole truth, there needs to be a framework of legislation imposed on top of company policies.

Currently in Singapore, there is no specific legislation in place to tackle whistle blowing. Everything is left to the discretion of the police, the courts and the whistle blower, him/herself.

If a potential whistle blower faces the prospect of losing his job, why is there an incentive to come forward? This then risks becoming an endless cycle of silence and cover up that can have detrimental effects on the public.

In a country whereby the press is somewhat timid, the desire and motivations of individuals to ensure that the scourge of corruption is limited is all the more important. It is therefore of crucial importance that utmost is done to ensure that a potential whistle blower is protected by the power of the law.

*Out of Bounds

Also read – Defamation, a tool to hide the truth and “beat” whistle-blowers into submission?


[accordions] [accordion title=”Singapore authority did not care about whistleblower’s anonymity” load=”hide”]

A whistleblower, Mr Tan and his family were put through a great deal of stress and fear after he reported on a crime by Elcarim Petroleum after Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) revealed his identity to the company during the trial. His name, IC number and address were included in a document which was used in the case.

The 52-year-old witnessed a crime in August 2011 where a Singapore company Elcarim Petroleum loaded unrecovered waste oil in one of their motor tankers at Tanjong Kling Road.

He subsequently made a police report the same month and, as a result, Elcarim Petroluem was convicted in January 2012 of breaching Regulation 7 of the MPA (dangerous goods, petroleum and explosives) Regulations.

Shortly after the conclusion of the court proceedings, Mr Tan and his family began suffering harassment at home.

He had bicycle chains attached to his metal gate, locking his family in. His potted plants were smashed and he had paint splashed on his door and windows on several occasions.

Mr Tan also claimed that he received phone calls in the middle of the night cursing and swearing at him.

MPA replied in their defence that Mr Tan should have known that he would not be kept anonymous when he first filed the police report on the criminal activity he had witnessed.

MPA claims that because Mr Tan had gone to the police and not given the information directly to MPA, there “could not have been any agreement of confidentiality”.

MPA added that Mr Tan should have known that he could be named in court since the police “may be duty-bound” to give the details of the first information reports to the accused, if asked.

In a nutshell, MPA is disclaiming responsibility for all the suffering that Mr Tan and his family have gone through.

Should Mr Tan have kept quiet and acted as if he heard and saw nothing since he had absolutely nothing to gain from his “heroic” act?

Read- “MPA hangs whistle-blower out to dry?”

[/accordion] [/accordions]
For just US$7.50 a month, sign up as a subscriber on The Online Citizen Asia (and enjoy ads-free experience on our site) to support our mission to transform TOC into an alternative mainstream press.

Related Posts

Family of student killed in accident involving retired police officer, calls for transparency from Indonesian police
Indonesia

Family of student killed in accident involving retired police officer, calls for transparency from Indonesian police

04/02/2023
【财政预算案2021】2020年预算赤字达649亿元 占国内生产总值13.9%
AFP

China’s mega-rich move their wealth, and partying, to Singapore

04/02/2023
2024 Olympic torch relay to start in Marseille
AFP

2024 Olympic torch relay to start in Marseille

03/02/2023
India’s Adani shares plunge again after stock sale cancelled
AFP

India’s Adani denies rise due to Modi as shares fall again

03/02/2023
TotalEnergies says Adani exposure ‘limited’ at US$3.1 bn
AFP

TotalEnergies says Adani exposure ‘limited’ at US$3.1 bn

03/02/2023
India’s finance minister says markets ‘well regulated’ after Adani storm
AFP

India’s finance minister says markets ‘well regulated’ after Adani storm

03/02/2023
Subscribe
Connect withD
Login
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Notify of
Connect withD
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Latest posts

Family of student killed in accident involving retired police officer, calls for transparency from Indonesian police

Family of student killed in accident involving retired police officer, calls for transparency from Indonesian police

04/02/2023
【财政预算案2021】2020年预算赤字达649亿元 占国内生产总值13.9%

China’s mega-rich move their wealth, and partying, to Singapore

04/02/2023
2024 Olympic torch relay to start in Marseille

2024 Olympic torch relay to start in Marseille

03/02/2023
India’s Adani shares plunge again after stock sale cancelled

India’s Adani denies rise due to Modi as shares fall again

03/02/2023
TotalEnergies says Adani exposure ‘limited’ at US$3.1 bn

TotalEnergies says Adani exposure ‘limited’ at US$3.1 bn

03/02/2023
India’s finance minister says markets ‘well regulated’ after Adani storm

India’s finance minister says markets ‘well regulated’ after Adani storm

03/02/2023
A man can be sentenced to death by a testimony of another, but CPIB finds it hard to prosecute with mountain of evidence and self-confession?

A man can be sentenced to death by a testimony of another, but CPIB finds it hard to prosecute with mountain of evidence and self-confession?

03/02/2023

Myanmar junta imposes tough new measures on resistance strongholds

03/02/2023

Trending posts

Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

by Yee Loon
30/01/2023
25

...

They have done a fine job of confusing us about the jobs situation

They have done a fine job of confusing us about the jobs situation

by Augustine Low
01/02/2023
47

...

Adani’s brother runs SG company and registers as director with local ID

Adani’s brother runs SG company and registers as director with local ID

by Correspondent
03/02/2023
23

...

Singapore warns slower economic growth in 2023

Less than 1 in 10 jobs created in first three quarters of 2022 went to Singaporeans?

by Leong Szehian
28/01/2023
69

...

Earning only S$400 a month, delivery-rider turned hawker threw in the towel after two years of running a rojak stall

Earning only S$400 a month, delivery-rider turned hawker threw in the towel after two years of running a rojak stall

by Yee Loon
26/01/2023
24

...

Excessively charging for an essential need, and calling it affordable because people still can pay for it?

by Terry Xu
31/01/2023
40

...

July 2016
M T W T F S S
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
« Jun   Aug »

The Online Citizen is a regional online publication based in Taiwan and formerly Singapore’s longest-running independent online media platform.

Navigation

  • Editorial
  • Commentaries
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Community

Support

  • Contact Us
  • Letter submission
  • Membership subscription

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Fact Checking Policy
  • Privacy Policy

© 2022 - 2023 The Online Citizen Asia

No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Civil Society
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
  • Politics
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Subscribers login

© 2022 - 2023 The Online Citizen Asia

wpDiscuz