Select committee’s report on AG-PP bill to be tabled tomorrow

 Law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said says the refinements to the bill followed seven rounds of meetings by the committee.

A news portal reported that the second reading of the constitutional amendment bill to separate the roles of the AG and PP had been postponed after the motion on the select committee’s report was dropped from today’s Dewan Rakyat agenda. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

A motion on the special select committee’s report on the proposed amendments to the constitutional amendment to separate the roles of the attorney-general and the public prosecutor will be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat tomorrow.

Law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said, who confirmed this in a statement today, said the tabling of the report marks another significant step in advancing the institutional reform agenda in a responsible, inclusive, and constitutionally grounded manner.

Azalina said the committee had refined the proposed constitutional amendments following seven meetings aimed at enhancing independence, integrity, and accountability of the public prosecutor’s role.

These include strengthening Parliament’s role in the appointment process, and providing for the public prosecutor to be appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the advice of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission, without the involvement of the prime minister or the Cabinet.

The proposed amendments include introducing a fixed, non-renewable seven-year term; establishing a code of ethics for the public prosecutor; and empowering Parliament to enact further legislation to strengthen the institution.

Her statement comes after Malaysiakini reported that the second reading of the constitution amendment bill had been postponed, after the motion on the committee’s report was removed from today’s Dewan Rakyat agenda.

Azalina said the government has also enhanced Clause (18) of the proposed Article 145A of the Federal Constitution to further strengthen Parliament’s role in the appointment of the public prosecutor.

“Under the proposed amendment, the Judicial and Legal Service Commission will submit the name of the nominee to the speaker for tabling before the House. The Dewan Rakyat will then examine the nominee through a select committee before making its recommendation to the commission.

“In accordance with that recommendation, the commission will advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong only on the candidate recommended by the Dewan Rakyat,” she said.

The bill was tabled for its first reading on Feb 23 but faced objections from MPs on both sides.

It was later referred to a bipartisan parliamentary special select committee, which spent about three months reviewing and redrafting the proposed changes. - FMT