Whistleblowers in ASEAN Countries: A Whither

Fraud, unlawful acts, and corruption are increasingly prevalent today. Many countries have established rules, norms, and legislation to guide the reporting of workplace misconduct. Whistleblowing has emerged as an effective strategy for exposing inappropriate organizational activities, whether to internal or external parties. Whistleblowing policies play a vital role in mitigating or eradicating fraud and wrongdoing, making it essential for every country to implement such measures. This paper examines the availability and enforcement of whistleblower protection legislation across ASEAN countries. A descriptive statistical analysis was employed in this study, with information on whistleblowing legislation gathered from reputable sources, including Malaysian law. The findings show that the absence of specific whistleblower laws and organizations in many ASEAN countries is challenging. However, whistleblowing helps strengthen governance by increasing transparency and accountability. Greater regional collaboration can lead to unified legal protections and stronger ethical governance.