Pressure MPs for law reforms, Azalina tells voters

 

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said has urged Malaysians to pressure MPs from both divides to push for law reforms.

She said that even though MPs tend to represent their parties, it is extremely important for them to listen and make decisions based on their constituents’ needs.

“If I bring law reforms to the floor, I need 148 votes to approve it. The MPs are going to voice their own opinions, not the people.

“Therefore, the rakyat must pressure them. The voters must have a say,” Azalina (above) told BFM’s The Breakfast Grille this morning.

When asked whether the coalition government can bring about changes in the country's laws, Azalina assured the administration was already on a good footing.

“For the cabinet to approve any policy changes and law amendments, the representation must come from MPs from multiple parties.

“The coalition government is already headed by a political party that has been continuously fighting for reform and change, and that is a good start,” the minister said.

Separation of powers

On that note, the Pengerang MP reminded that her ministry was in the midst of looking into separating the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) and the public prosecutor’s office.

She noted that a proper study needed to be carried out on the separation and that the royal commission of inquiry (RCI) will look into it as part of the terms of reference.

Azalina also highlighted the challenges in achieving the separation, saying that "there are numerous layers of protocols and clearances of the legal defence division”.

“One of the main challenges is how the members of AGC think about the separation itself,” she said.

Azalina initiated the first step in separating the public prosecutor’s office from the AGC last December.

The minister also compared the situation to the Parliamentary Services Act, in which its re-enactment draft had been sent to the AGC, as revealed by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul last month.

The Parliamentary Services Act was first enacted in 1963, just a few months before the formation of Malaysia.

It allowed Parliament to act as a truly independent body, running its own affairs, selecting its staff and controlling its expenditure.

However, it was repealed in 1992. - Mkini