KUALA LUMPUR: Corruption watchdog groups have welcomed the move to expand the graft reporting incentive scheme to the general public.
They see it as a positive step in the country's anti-corruption campaign.
Transparency International Malaysia president Dr Muhammad Mohan said the move would encourage more people to report on corruption cases.
"It will motivate more individuals to come forward and report such cases when they know they will be rewarded for their efforts.
"Moreover, failure to report could lead to charges under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act," he said when contacted.
Muhammad, however, said in terms of reference the reward for exposing graft must be made clear to the public.
"Otherwise when someone blows the whistle or a complainant reports but does not get the reward due to not meeting certain conditions then problems may arise.
"A complainant prepared to go to court deserves a bigger reward as he or she is taking a greater risk.
"The idea is to get more Malaysians to come forward to report corruption in the long term.
"At the moment Malaysians take the attitude of not wanting to know although they know corruption is a sin."
He suggested a structured approach for rewards.
"Once a person is charged in court, probably 20 per cent of the reward can be disbursed. Upon conviction, another 30 per cent can be released.
"If the money stolen or embezzled can be recovered fully, then a percentage of the recovered money can be given to the whistleblower or complainant."
Asked about potential drawbacks, he said it may lead to many flimsy complaints or whistleblowers may come forward but based on hearsay.
"This is why the terms of reference must be clearly stated with clear conditions to qualify for the reward."
Echoing a similar sentiment was the Malaysian Corruption Watch (MCW) president Jais Abdul Karim.
He said the move aligns well with the long-term goal of combating corruption by creating a broader base of vigilant citizens.
"It fosters a culture of transparency and accountability, which is crucial for sustaining anti-corruption efforts.
"Engaging the public not only increases the number of potential whistleblowers but also raises awareness and deterrence against corrupt practices across society."
Jais said the move would also promote active participation from citizens in governance and enhance trust in anti-corruption institutions.
"Encouraging community-led initiatives to monitor and report corrupt practices can create a grassroots level resistance against corruption."
He, however, cautioned on the risk of false or malicious reporting for financial gain, which could burden investigative resources and ruin reputations.
"Monetary rewards might create a dual motivation. While some individuals may report out of genuine concern for public integrity, others may be driven primarily by financial incentives.
"This duality can raise ethical questions and potentially undermine the altruistic aspect of whistleblowing.
"It is crucial to ensure that ethical guidelines and strict verification processes are in place to maintain the integrity of the reporting system."
Jais said the RM1 million paid out to 514 civil servants since 2012 for exposing corruption cases that led to conviction under the graft exposure reward incentive was tangible proof of its success.
Recently, MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki in the New Straits Times' Beyond the Headlines talk show said there was a proposal to expand the reward scheme for exposing graft in the civil service to the general public.
However, Azam said the matter was just a proposal and the specific and optimal procedures with lead agencies were still being ironed out.