Up for discussion: Lawmakers meeting during the debate on the Mid-Term Review of the 12th Malaysia Plan at the Dewan Rakyat. — Bernama
TWO special task forces will be deployed to study and hasten the process of separating the offices of the Attorney General (AG) and the Public Prosecutor (PP), says Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) said task forces were being created after the first meeting to look into the reform agenda of separating the two offices was held yesterday.
The meeting was also attended by Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC) on Human Rights, Election and Institutional Reform chairman and Selayang MP William Leong; representatives from the Opposition bloc; the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC); and the Public Service Department.
“The separation of the roles of the AG and PP will include amendments to the Federal Constitution and laws, as well as other related rules that will have huge financial and staffing implications to the government,” she said in a statement yesterday.
Azalina added that the Cabinet would be informed of the outcome of the discussion at its next meeting, for further considerations.
She said the meeting yesterday also agreed for both task forces to study matters involving the separation of powers.
The first task force, dubbed the “comprehensive study special task force”, will be led by Azalina and will include representatives from the PSSC, AGC, Opposition bloc and the Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister’s Department.
Evidence-based research on global best practices will be conducted on several countries such as England and Australia to obtain further information that is not accessible openly.
The second, called the “technical special task force”, will study legal, financial and staffing implications.
“It is suggested that this task force be handled completely by the AGC and Legal Affairs Division,” she said.
Azalina said an interim report would be prepared within a year regarding the study on the separation of roles, to be followed by further engagements with stakeholders such as the police and enforcement agencies.
In a separate statement, Leong said a proceeding would be proposed to further discuss the issue and that Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul had also agreed for the PSSC to study the Federal Constitution for relevant amendments.
He said the proceeding would involve several high-profile cases.
They include the acquittal of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and former 1MDB chief executive officer Arul Kanda Kandasamy in the 1MDB audit tampering case; former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s acquittal of four charges involving power abuse; and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi being granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal for his graft cases.
“The PSSC finds that the outcome of these high-profile cases gives a perception that the Attorney General’s Chambers has interfered. Justice must be served according to the Federal Constitution,” he said.
Leong said the PSSC would also be calling up several individuals including Azalina, AG Datuk Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh, former AG Tan Sri Idris Harun, Legal Affairs Division director-general Datuk Seri Khairul Dzaimee Daud, and the lawyers who represented Ahmad Zahid.
“The proceeding will be carried out under the terms of reference of the PSSC.
“We hope it gives the stakeholders an opportunity to provide a detailed explanation.
“This will aid the PSSC in giving recommendations to the government when it comes to institutional reforms,” Leong said.
