KUCHING: The effectiveness of the government’s witness protection programmes can be enhanced by speeding up the establishment of nationwide branches of the Protection Division of the Prime Minister’s Department.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said despite the Protection Division having existed since 2009 it only had one office in Putrajaya.
“Branches of the Protection Division based on zones and states, including in Sarawak, should be established immediately,” he told reporters after attending the Witness Protection Programme Seminar here yesterday (June 9).
Additional manpower, logistics and offices should be given priority by the Public Service Department (JPA) and the Ministry of Finance, in view of the current needs and importance of the witness protection programmes.
Wan Junaidi said witness protection programmes were important though not limited towards any witness who felt threatened for providing information under Section 5, Witness Protection Act (Act 696).
“In fact, I applaud and appreciate the achievement in protecting the witness from any threats with 100 per cent of security without any accident or negligence,” he said.
He hoped it could be a motivation to increase the quality of service matched by witness protection agencies at the international level.
“The rationale of this long-term protection is needed due to the subjectivity of the level of witness’ safety, especially after the programmes are over.
“The government also, while preserving the safety of the witness, will ensure that the court will have a special seat for the safety of the witnesses who are protected and not affected,” he added.
He also explained that this directly could guarantee the effectiveness of certain trial proceedings in the court.
“Malaysia undeniably is determined to stand alongside some of the developed countries and in fact, there are few sectors in this country that are far more outstanding at the international level.
“Therefore, there should be a strategic collaboration in the international stage to be established by the protection division in increasing the quality of the service,” he said.
Also present was chief director of Legal Affair Division, Department of Prime Minister, Datuk Abd Shukor Mahmood.
