Amendments to separate AG and PP roles next year, says minister

 

PARLIAMENT | The government has set a clear timeline to fully separate the powers of the attorney-general and public prosecutor with proposed constitutional amendments to be tabled next year.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said also reaffirmed the government's commitment following a Sept 10 cabinet agreement to a full separation between the functions of the attorney-general and public prosecutor.

"As for the next step, first, an amendment to the Federal Constitution must be made to provide the source of authority (for the separation of powers).

"After the (constitutional) amendments are enforced, the government will table two follow-up bills," Azalina told the Dewan Rakyat during Question Time.

She said this in response to Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Baru) who requested for the status of the process which had been identified as a key institutional reform that the current administration promised.

The Prime Minister's Office had previously said Articles 145, 183 and 42 under the federal constitution will be drafted separately to establish the position of an independent public prosecutor.

In addition, a Law Reform (Public Prosecutor) Bill will be drafted in an omnibus manner to amend the Criminal Procedure Code and 18 other related Acts.

At the same time, a new Act specifically concerning the remuneration of the attorney-general and the public prosecutor will also be created, similar to the Judges’ Remuneration Act 1971. - Mkini