Think tank lauds move to separate AG, public prosecutor powers

 

The Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas) has welcomed the government’s decision to perform a thorough empirical study regarding the prospective separation of powers between the attorney-general and the public prosecutor.

This comes after Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said revealed this on Friday during the Parliament Lecture Series 3.0: Rebuilding the Nation Through Reforms at Parliament.

“Ideas is encouraged by Azalina’s remarks on separating the office of the AG and the public prosecutor.

“We urge the government to expedite the process as civil society organisations have been making such calls for several years.

“...the previous administration had also promised to undertake this institutional reform, with the former law minister making similar remarks almost one year ago,” the group said in a statement today.

As reported by The Star, Azalina (above) pointed out that the implementation of the separation of powers would necessitate amendments to 19 existing laws, along with revisions to the Federal Constitution.

Necessary step

Furthermore, she underscored that this undertaking would entail associated costs, thereby warranting supplementary allocations of government spending.

In response to this, Ideas has offered to work with the government throughout the process, even suggesting policy papers published by the group and Bersih as references for the reform.

“Separating the role of the AG and that of the public prosecutor is a necessary step towards enhancing the rule of law in Malaysia.

“With remarks made by some parties in the country claiming selective prosecution and the government’s commitment to institutional reform, the rule of law, and addressing corruption, it would be pivotal for the separation to be undertaken as soon as practicable,” it said.

Ideas CEO Tricia Yeoh

Meanwhile, Ideas CEO Tricia Yeoh said that with the independence of the AG’s office, the government should also consider implementing the Political Financing Act, the Fiscal Responsibility Act and the Constituency Development Fund Act.

“All these reforms will strengthen the country’s institutions, ensure their independence from political interference, as well as improve investor confidence in Malaysia,” Yeoh said. - Mkini