Malaysia explores making Attorney General and Public Prosecutor answerable to Parliament as part of a major role separation reform.
KUALA LUMPUR: The government is examining the feasibility of making the Attorney General and the Public Prosecutor accountable to Parliament.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said this is part of ongoing efforts to separate the two roles.
She stated the matter is a policy issue requiring comprehensive study on legal implications, institutional structure and governance.
“Therefore, this matter is among the elements being examined by the Technical Special Task Force,” she said in a written parliamentary reply.
Azalina was responding to a question from Ramkarpal Singh on the status of separating the offices and proposals for parliamentary accountability to ensure prosecutorial transparency.
She also confirmed the Attorney General’s Chambers is finalising the draft Constitution (Amendment) Bill on the role separation.
The bill is slated for tabling according to the stipulated timeline following the Prime Minister’s direction.
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim reaffirmed the commitment to table it at the First Meeting of the Fifth Session of the 15th Parliament.
The government will first table the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, followed by an Omnibus Bill to amend 19 related laws.
A separate Attorney General and Public Prosecutor Remuneration Bill will also be tabled.
Azalina added that legal and institutional reform efforts continue through the Malaysia Accountability Framework launched on Jan 13.
She said the framework encompasses all reform efforts, including the proposed separation of roles, to be implemented ongoing this year.