Step down over Rafizi arrest, Paul Low told

Minister must resign in protest over lack of whistleblower protection given to Rafizi, DAP sec-gen Lim Guan Eng says.

GEORGE TOWN: De facto integrity minister Paul Low should quit in protest over the arrest of Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli, DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng said today.

He said by quitting, Low, who is Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, would send a message to the government that it must take care of those who blow the whistle on alleged corrupt practices.

“I ask Low, what is the use of being minister when Rafizi is caught for merely exposing corruption?

“Low should step down in protest, or he can stay on to prove that this is a normal thing to do,” he said at a press conference in Komtar today.

Lim said he was saddened that Rafizi was not given protection under the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 as he was merely exposing corruption.

Rafizi, who is PKR vice-president and secretary-general, was arrested by police as he exited the compound of Parliament yesterday.

Police arrested him under Section 8 of the Official Secrets Act (OSA) for alleged wrongful communication of government secrets.

It is believed Rafizi was arrested for revealing documents classified under the OSA, which allegedly linked 1Malaysia Development Berhad to the Armed Forces Fund Board.

“We condemn Rafizi’s arrest under the OSA. We are very hurt seeing him in lock-up garb,” Lim said.