Kuala Lumpur: Law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said has called for patience over the separation of the public prosecutor’s (PP) role from that of the attorney-general (AG).
“We can’t amend the constitution without a comprehensive study. So, be patient because we really need to do it properly,” she told a press conference here today.
Azalina said the process included engaging stakeholders, including the Sabah and Sarawak governments, to determine to what extent the two states will want to separate the roles of the PP and the AG.
“As you know, Sabah and Sarawak have their own AGs, so we need to look at that,” she said.
SPONSORED CONTENT Daily Express members: Enjoy 1 for 1 signature cocktails and more at Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu Kota Kinabalu: DAILY EXPRESS is partnering with Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu to offer an exclusive deal for our members. Read more Azalina said while the government was committed to separating the roles of the two, it was challenging when there were people intent on changing the government.
“That is why we have the anti-hopping law, but yesterday, someone said in Parliament that the law is considered undemocratic.
“Before the elections (GE15), we agreed that a seat belongs to the party, but now, after the elections, everybody is saying it is curbing freedom (of association),” she said.
Yesterday, Arau MP Shahidan Kassim proposed that the anti-hopping law be set aside so the MPs could choose a new government while remaining in their parties.
It was previously reported that the government had formed two special task forces to expedite the separation of the roles of the PP and the AG.
Calls for reform have been growing after the prosecution in Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s corruption trial requested a conditional discharge.
Zahid, who is the deputy prime minister, was subsequently granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA).
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