The much-condemned ‘secrecy’ law recently passed in Parliament will not hinder anti-graft efforts, assured the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Friday.

The new Section 203A, which introduces heavy penalties on civil servants for leaking information, is specific to prevent serious crime and would not prevent anti-corruption efforts, said MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed.

“203A is about government officers who leak information and does not cover whistleblowers,” Abu Kassim said.

He added that both The Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 and 203A have “different objectives” and the latter was specifically targeted at those who leaked information to criminals, and that was the "original spirit of the act."

However, he declined to comment on fears that the legislation would curtail media freedom, saying: “That, you have to ask the media (themselves)."

The amendment to the Penal Code to include Section 203A, or the new “disclosure of information” clause, was passed in the Dewan Rakyat on Oct 22.

A few days prior to being pushed through Parliament, the Bill drew flak from the Opposition as well as civil society for its seemingly wide ranging powers, as well as its vagueness.

The said provision reads: "Whoever discloses any information or matter which has been obtained by him in the performance of his duties or the exercise of his functions under any written law shall be punished with a fine of not more than RM1 million, or with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with both".

While its critics argued that it was an enabler for more corruption to occur, de facto law Minister Nancy Shukry argued in the August house that it was an “enabling law” to tackle “serious crime”.

However, Nancy later said that after receiving feedback from various quarters, the Government would review the law.