Making reform happen: Azalina and Fahmi.
PUTRAJAYA: The government has agreed in principle to the full separation of the roles of Attorney General (AG) and Public Prosecutor (PP), says the Prime Minister’s Legal Affairs Division Department (BHEUU).
In a statement issued yesterday, BHEUU said the Cabinet decided on this during its meeting after Law and Institutional Reform Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said presented several separation models.
“After due consideration, the Cabinet decided to implement the proposal for a full separation, where both positions will be established independently and equally under the Federal Constitution.
“This decision was made after reviewing the final report prepared by the Special Task Force on Comparative Study, chaired by Azalina.
“For this purpose, amendments to the Federal Constitution – specifically Article 145, Article 183, and Article 42 – will be drafted separately to establish the Public Prosecutor as an independent authority.
“In addition, an omnibus Reform of Laws (Public Prosecutor) Bill will be drafted to amend the Criminal Procedure Code and 18 other related Acts. At the same time, a new Act specifically concerning the remuneration of the AG and PP will be introduced, similar to the Judges’ Remuneration Act 1971 (Act 45).
“The Cabinet has also agreed that the implementation will be carried out in phases, with several adjustments to existing structures and procedures.
“Therefore, a Technical Task Force led by BHEUU, in collaboration with the AG’s Chambers, and with the involvement of the Finance Ministry, the Public Service Department, the Judicial and Legal Services Commission and the Public Services Commission, will continue to detail all aspects of implementation – including organisational structure, staffing, logistics and financial implications,” BHEUU said.
The department further said that the complete recommendations resulting from this will be submitted to the Cabinet for consideration.
“This is to enable the necessary constitutional amendments to be made, and the separation of roles can be implemented appropriately, in line with the Constitution and existing laws.
“This step represents a holistic and significant legal institutional reform under the Madani government framework aimed at strengthening governance, upholding the rule of law and enhancing public confidence in the national justice system,” BHEUU said.
Before this, Azalina said the government intended for the separation of powers to define the PP’s role as the prosecutor and the AG’s role as advisor to the government.
At a post-Cabinet briefing to the media later, Communications Minister and government spokesperson Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the Cabinet agreed unanimously on the separation after the detailed presentation by Azalina.
On another matter, Fahmi said Cabinet ministers were informed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim that they have been barred from leaving the country except for officially scheduled trips with immediate effect.
“This is to ensure the ministers focus and prioritise on the preparation of Budget 2026 to be presented on Oct 10 and the upcoming Asean Summit to be held in Kuala Lumpur next month.
“There are also various programmes which will be held, for which Cabinet ministers will have to be around,” he said.
On the government’s anti-bully campaign, Fahmi said the Cabinet agreed to begin the roadshow today in Putrajaya, led by Azalina, who will also chair the roadshow committee.
“This roadshow to all parts of the country intends to gain feedback from the public on the proposal to set up an Anti-Bully Tribunal.
“Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek and I will also attend the anti-bully roadshow, which will begin in Putrajaya on Sept 11, Negri Sembilan (Sept 17), Selangor (Sept 18) and Melaka (Sept 22),” said Fahmi, adding that teachers and parent-teachers groups will be involved too.
He also said the roadshow is open to the public.
Asked about action taken by the government against a website allegedly selling the personal data of Malaysians, Fahmi said the site, Caghi, had been blocked since last year.
“MCMC has also contacted the service provider for details on the individuals behind the site,” he said.
Recently, there were reports that a website called Caghi has been selling personal data of Malaysians for US$50 (RM210.90).
Caghi is a Malaysian open-source intelligence platform that aggregates data from various public sources.
Fahmi said the Cabinet meeting also condemned Israeli airstrikes on the Global Sumud Flotilla in Tunisia and called it “cowardly”.
“This attack is unacceptable and is an attempt to derail the negotiations to end the genocide in Palestine.
“The two attacks within 24 hours are inhumane and violate international laws, threatening the humanitarian mission activists,” said Fahmi, adding that no Malaysians were affected by the attacks.
The Global Sumud Flotilla humanitarian mission involves more than 1,000 activists from 44 countries, including Malaysia, who are crossing the Mediterranean Sea in an effort to break the Israeli blockade on Gaza.
The Global Sumud Flotilla said that a drone struck its main ship in the Tunisian port of Sidi Bou Said, causing a fire but passengers and crew were unharmed.
