National Oversight and Whistleblowers Centre


National Oversight and Whistleblowers Centre is a Malaysian national nonprofit organisation dedicated to recognising the need to institute public-driven oversight initiatives and the role of whistleblowers in the matured society.
It was co-founded in 2012 by Executive Director Rafizi Ramli and Director Akmal Nasir. NOW is headquartered at Sungai Besi Kuala Lumpur.

Objectives

  • Monitor, Assess and Report
Act as an oversight body to monitor, assess and report independently of the performance, transparency and accountability of the governments, parliamentary houses, major government agencies and major corporations with huge public interests
  • Act Independently
Act independently and decisively to bring to the public's attention any issues or scandals with major repercussions to the public interests
  • Whistleblower Right
Protect the safety, rights and welfare of whistleblowers through the Whistleblowers Protection Fund which disburses grants to qualified whistleblowers to pay for legal fees and loss of income
  • Encouragement
Cultivate a conducive environment in the society that encourages whistleblowers to come forward without fear or fervour through policy advocacy, standard setting and campaign initiatives
  • Training and Counsultancy
Provide training and consultancy to the public and organisations on the skills and accountability of whistleblowers with the aim to produce more responsible whistleblowers in the society

History

NOW was accused by the Pertubuhan Minda dan Sosial Prihatin, Ramesh Rao in 2015 for not having the Central Bank of Malaysia's permission to collect the funds to close the 1Malaysia Development Berhad.
The Malaysian police have investigated both NOW and Malaysian Islamic Economic Development Foundation following their report against each other.