Exploring factors behind whistleblowing intention among employees in the Malaysian halal food manufacturing sector

Abstract

Whistleblowing serves as a crucial tool to enhance the security of the halal food supply chain. Despite its importance as a monitoring tool, research on whistleblowing intentions within halal-certified food companies has been limited. This study explores employee awareness and whistleblowing intentions by conducting semi-structured interviews with 16 informants and using thematic analysis guided by the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). The findings show varying levels of employee awareness and knowledge of whistleblowing. Some employees have a clear understanding due to company policies and training, while others have an intuitive understanding of the concept despite limited exposure. As highlighted in the TPB, attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control were found to influence whistleblowing intentions. Furthermore, factors such as organisational support, employee responsibility, religious obligation, seriousness of wrongdoing, knowledge, and the perceived authority of the complaint recipient also influenced whistleblowing decisions. These findings emphasise whistleblowing's complex interaction of individual, social, and organisational factors. While the whistleblowing framework is not new, this study’s contribution lies in its application to halal-certified food companies, offering valuable insights for companies, regulators, policymakers, and academics in the halal sector.