Transperancy International Cambodia yesterday called on the authorities to fulfill their commitment to the introduction of a whistleblower law, saying it would be key in protecting those who otherwise might not call out corruption.

TI released the results of a survey of 1,200 Cambodian youths, aged between 15 and 30, at a seminar in Phnom Penh yesterday. The corruption watchdog found that 33 per cent of youths would definitely not, or would be unlikely, to report corruption.

Roughly 30 per cent said they were afraid of retribution; 25 per cent said it would effect no change; 24 per cent said they were not sure how to report it; 21 per cent said it was not their duty.

“To allow people to report corruption without any fear as in other countries, the law protecting the witness and reporter has to be made separately, and it has to state all the points - from the mechanism, definition and policy of protection,” said TI Cambodia executive director Preap Kol.

Kheang Seng, deputy director of the Anti-Corruption Unit, said yesterday that the draft legislation, first announced in 2014, was close to completion.