As a senior officer in the Finance Ministry, you have access to some confidential and crucial information about policy decisions that the Government is about to announce. These decisions are likely to have far-reaching impact on the housing and construction industry. If the builders have access to this information beforehand, they can make huge profits. One of the builders has done a lot of quality work for the Government and is known to be close to your immediate superior, who asks you to disclose this information to the said builder. (a) What are the options available to you? (b) Evaluate each of these options and choose the option which you would adopt, giving reasons.

Facts

As a senior Finance Ministry officer I hold confidential, market-sensitive policy information affecting the housing and construction industry. My immediate superior asks me to leak it to a favoured builder who could reap huge profits — an act of insider disclosure and corruption.

Stakeholders

• The public and the integrity of markets — the ultimate loser from insider advantage.
• Honest builders/investors denied a level playing field.
• Myself — my integrity, official secrecy obligations and career.
• My superior and the favoured builder.

Ethical issues

• Confidentiality and official secrecy versus obedience to a superior.
• Public interest and market fairness versus private profiteering.
• Integrity and moral courage against misuse of authority and corruption.

(a) Options available

• (i) Obey and leak the information.
• (ii) Bluntly refuse and antagonise the superior.
• (iii) Firmly but respectfully decline, explaining the illegality, and safeguard the information.

(b) Evaluation

• (i) Obey: a clear breach of confidentiality and law, causing public loss — wholly unethical.
• (ii) Blunt refusal: upholds integrity but may be needlessly confrontational and expose me to retaliation without a record.
• (iii) Respectfully decline and protect the information: maintains integrity, keeps the relationship professional, and creates accountability.

Recommended course of action

I will choose (iii). I will respectfully but firmly refuse, reminding my superior that disclosure violates confidentiality rules, the Prevention of Corruption Act and the public trust, and could invite serious legal consequences for both of us. I will ensure the information remains secure and, if the pressure persists, seek written instructions and escalate to higher authorities or the vigilance/whistle-blower channel. I will not compromise official secrecy or public interest for any individual's private gain, whatever the source of the pressure.