Two task forces to study separation of AG-public prosecutor powers

PETALING JAYA: Two special task forces will be formed to study and quicken the process of separating the offices of the Attorney General (AG) and the Public Prosecutor (PP), says Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

The Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reforms) said that the task forces were being created following a meeting she chaired on Tuesday (Sept 12), which also included Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC) on Human Rights, Election and Institutional Reform chairman and Selayang MP William Leong Jee Keen, representatives from the Opposition bloc, the AG's Chambers and the Public Service Department (PSD).

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"The separation of the roles of the attorney general and public prosecutor will include amendments to the Federal Constitution and laws at hand, as well as other related rules that will bring huge financial and staffing implications to the government," she said in a statement on Tuesday, adding that the results of the discussion would be informed in a coming Cabinet meeting for further consideration.

The meeting also agreed on the creation of two task forces.

The first, dubbed the comprehensive study special task force, will be led by the minister herself and include representatives from the PSSC, AGC, Opposition bloc and the Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister's Department (BHEUU).

"Evidence-based research" would be conducted regarding several countries such as England and Australia to obtain further information that is not accessible openly through global best practices.

The second, called the technical special task force, would study the legal financial and staffing implications.

"It is suggested that this task force be handled completely by the AGC and BHEUU," she said.

She added that this task force would prepare an interim report within a year regarding the study on the separation of roles for the AG and PP. It would also be brought to the Cabinet.

Further engagement would also be conducted with stakeholders such as the police and other enforcement agencies.

"The reform agenda is important in ensuring that the democratic governance is more robust and so that the laws are in line with the commitments of the unity government in ensuring a good legislative system and governance," she said.