KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 — The separation of the Attorney-General’s (AG) office from the public prosecutor’s role will take some time, given the complexity and challenges of its implementation, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said hopes an interim report on the status of the separation of the roles can be included in the empirical study related to the matter next year.
“It is hoped that the empirical study conducted will result in an interim report next year, detailing the status of the AG’s role and the separation between the AG and public prosecutor positions.”
“This shows that the reform agenda is continuously implemented,” she said in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Azalina was replying to a question from Sri Gading MP Aminolhuda Hassan, who wanted to know the performance of the institutional reform agenda championed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in leading the Unity Government.
The AG currently serves as the government's chief legal adviser and the head of public prosecution.
In reply to a supplementary question from Besut MP Datuk Che Mohamad Zulkifly Jusoh, who proposed amending Article 145(3) of the Federal Constitution while waiting for the empirical study to be completed, Azalina said the government would not rush into the matter.
She also explained that the Madani government is responsible and cannot make a decision simply due to demands made by the masses.
Azalina said the empirical study is conducted by the government together with the Parliamentary Special Select Committee on Human Rights, Elections and Institutional Reform, led by Selayang MP William Leong.
“When we went to Canada and Australia, they too provided the same feedback, that the changes require a period of time, not (adopted) suddenly just because it was demanded. Indeed, we can make the amendments but the Madani government is a responsible government,” she said.
Azalina added that the empirical study included evidence-based research and discussions.
— Bernama
