Azalina Urges Lawmakers to Support Separation of Attorney General and Prosecutor Roles

Azalina Othman Said is urging every Malaysian lawmaker, regardless of party, to support legislation separating the powers of the attorney general and public prosecutor.

The minister in the Prime Minister’s Department for Law and Institutional Reform said the separation could help reduce public perceptions that prosecutions in particular cases are politically motivated. She made the appeal after attending the launch of a public opinion survey on the drafting of a coroners’ bill at the Asian International Arbitration Centre in Kuala Lumpur.

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I appeal, if possible, to all members of Parliament. The bill we have prepared is something good, and it can reduce to some extent the perception of political prosecutions in any case.

Azalina said she hoped the separation bill would receive support in both the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara. She also called on all political parties to welcome the proposal, saying it would bring more benefits than drawbacks and serve the country.

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The Dewan Rakyat, Dewan Negara and every political party must welcome this separation bill because it brings more benefits than harm. It is for our country.

The government has agreed to adopt a full separation model. Under that arrangement, the attorney general and public prosecutor would be two different individuals holding equivalent positions. Constitutional amendments are expected to be presented during the second parliamentary session next year, creating a route for the two roles to be separated according to the announced timetable.

Azalina said she no longer wanted to hear prosecutions described as political whenever someone faced charges.

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I do not want to hear people say anymore that when someone is prosecuted, it is linked to politics.