PETALING JAYA: The process of separating the offices of the Attorney General (AG) and the Public Prosecutor (PP) must be done as soon as possible so as to strengthen the rule of law, says a think tank.
The Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas) has also offered to assist the government in expediting this initiative because it had completed a study on separating the two entities.
“Ideas is encouraged by Azalina’s remarks on separating the office of the AG and PP,” Ideas chief executive officer Dr Tricia Yeoh said, referring to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reforms) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
“Many civil society organisations (CSOs) have been making such calls for several years and the previous administration had also promised to undertake the reform,” she said in a statement yesterday.
“With remarks made by some parties in the country claiming selective prosecution and the government’s commitment to institutional reform, the rule of law and addressing corruption, it would be pivotal for the separation to be undertaken as soon as practicable,” Yeoh said.
On Saturday, Azalina said the government would complete a comprehensive empirical study within one year before finalising the proposed separation of powers.
About 19 existing laws, as well as the Federal Constitution, needed to be amended for this purpose, she said.
Yeoh said: “Ideas is ready to share the insights it has gained when it completed a policy paper on the subject in 2016, titled ‘Separating the Attorney General and Public Prosecutor: Enhancing Rule of Law in Malaysia’.”
“Bersih’s paper published in 2021 is also an important reference in this reform effort,” said Yeoh, referring to the electoral and institutional reform group.
“Other reforms that should accompany the separation of powers include enacting a Political Financing Act, the Fiscal Responsibility Act as well as the Constituency Development Fund Act.
“All these reforms will strengthen the country’s institutions, ensure their independence from political interference, as well as improve investor confidence in Malaysia,” she said.
