AG-PP separation, PM term limit bills to be tabled Monday

 

The bills on the separation of the attorney-general (AG) and public prosecutor roles, as well as capping the prime minister’s term of office, will be tabled for the first reading in the Dewan Rakyat this Monday (Feb 23).

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform), Azalina Othman Said, announced that the second reading for the former will take place on March 2.

The second reading for the latter will be on March 3, with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim expected to table it, she said at a briefing on the bills with local media editors-in-chief today.

Azalina said separating the legal and prosecutorial functions of the AG is to reinforce institutional independence and promote greater transparency and fairness in the national legal system.

“Among the key proposals are the appointment of the public prosecutor by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at his discretion, upon the recommendation of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission, after consultation with the Conference of Rulers, as well as the conferral of prosecutorial powers,” she said.

She said the bill will clarify that the public prosecutor will hold a position equal to the AG in terms of rank and service, with proposed requirements including at least 10 years’ litigation experience and a fixed seven-year term.

On the bill to cap the prime minister’s tenure at a maximum of 10 years or two terms, Azalina said the limit will be calculated cumulatively over a lifetime, whether the terms are served consecutively or not.

She added that once a prime minister reaches the aggregate 10-year limit and vacates office, the cabinet will also stand dissolved. The bill also provides for a transition period.

“Until a new prime minister is appointed under Article 43(2)(a), the outgoing prime minister and cabinet will carry out only limited caretaker functions confined to the day-to-day administration of the government,” she explained.

Azalina said both bills have received cabinet approval and expressed hope they will secure bipartisan support in Parliament to strengthen the nation’s legal framework and democratic governance.

- Bernama