Explaining whistleblowing intention in a Malaysian Government Department: public service motivation, self-efficacy, empathy, and organisational trust

Malaysia’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI) declined notably between 2019 and 2024, reflecting persistent concerns about integrity in the public sector and employees’ reluctance to report misconduct. This study examines factors influencing whistleblowing intention among public sector employees, focusing on public service motivation, self-efficacy and empathy, with organisational trust as a moderator. Data were collected using an online structured questionnaire from 76 employees from Department ABC (pseudonym), which functions as an enforcement-based institution contributing to national revenue in Malaysia through convenience sampling and analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). Results show that public service motivation, self-efficacy and empathy significantly influence whistleblowing intention. While organisational trust does not moderate the effects of public service motivation and self-efficacy, it strengthens the relationship between empathy and whistleblowing. The study contributes theoretically by extending the application of prosocial behaviour theory to a high-risk public sector context and by conceptualising trust as a moderating mechanism that conditions the strength of individual drivers. Practically, the findings offer insights for public sector institutions to strengthen ethical reporting by enhancing prosocial values, individual confidence and organisational trust.