The Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) said it was astonished by the “sheer negligence” displayed by the nation’s top graft buster, Azam Baki.

In a statement, C4 said the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 defined “confidential information” to include details on the identity of a whistleblower, which obviously would cover his full name.

“To release his name directly to members of the media before statutory protection is conferred upon the whistleblower is a ridiculous decision that effectively undermines any protection he might receive in the future,” it said.

It claimed that some media outlets had already begun to circulate the whistleblower’s full name, while a few online sources have published his picture and details of his occupation as well.

C4 said naming the purported whistleblower further illustrated the deficiencies in Malaysia’s whistleblower protection framework and highlighted the pressing need for an overhaul of the system.

“We hope the government sees this event as a lesson on the gaps which presently exist in the whistleblower protection framework and the administration of MACC itself,” it said.

On Tuesday, Lawyers for Liberty adviser and former MACC chief commissioner Latheefa Koya said she had received the evidence from the alleged whistleblower, whom she only identified as Albert.

She refused to mention his surname, citing safety concerns.

Malaysiakini, however, reported that Azam had disclosed his surname to the media at a press conference in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.