Public interest no excuse to leak classified information, minister says
(MMO) – Matters of public interest cannot be used as an excuse to justify classified information leakages, Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak has said.
Responding to Malay rights group Perkasa’s question of how exposing corruption could be regarded as a national security matter, Salleh said that whistleblowing on established crimes and leaking official secrets are two different matters.
Salleh said that those who leak information would often cite public interest to defend their actions.
He stressed that public interest cannot be used to justify leaks of classified information that are protected under the Official Secrets Act 1972 (OSA).
“We need to understand the difference between whistleblowing and the leaking of classified information. A document or file that has been stamped RAHSIA comes under the OSA ― as do those that are automatically classified such as Cabinet Papers, EXCO meeting papers, etc.
“Reasons of public interest do not apply in such matters,” he told Malay Mail Online in an emailed response when contacted.
