Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim said Ismail Sabri Yaakob should see through this reform if he wished to leave a lasting legacy.
“Hold the elections next year, after amending the Federal Constitution to separate the positions of attorney-general and public prosecutor,” he said.
“All parties can agree to this, whether Umno-Barisan Nasional, Pakatan Harapan, Perikatan Nasional or Pejuang and Gerakan Tanah Air,” he said in a statement.
Hassan said if Ismail wanted a reason to push through the reform, he needed only to listen to the dissatisfaction of Umno leaders and grassroots members regarding recent court cases involving the party’s members.
Earlier today, an Umno leadership member said the party would revive 15 criminal cases involving PH personalities which were said to have been dropped by Tommy Thomas, the attorney-general appointed by PH when it came to power in 2018.
Hassan said Ismail had already succeeded twice in amending the Federal Constitution with parliamentary support of both the government and opposition blocs.
These amendments were to restore Sabah and Sarawak’s position as signatories of the Malaysia Agreement, and to outlaw party-hopping by MPs and state assembly members.
“This could be the third opportunity for Ismail to leave a legacy.”
Hassan added that the length of a prime minister’s tenure was not important but rather, the progress and reforms achieved during his time in power.
Currently, the attorney-general also acts as the public prosecutor.
Idrus Harun is the current attorney-general. He was appointed by the previous government of Muhyiddin Yassin.
Last week, Pengerang MP Azalina Othman Said of Umno said the current government led by Ismail had not appointed “one of our own” to the position.
Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi also said last week that PH had carried out selective prosecution through its attorney-general, Thomas.
He said he and other Umno leaders have been put on trial but Thomas had dropped corruption charges against several PH leaders.
Among them was former Penang chief minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng whose corruption charges were dropped mid-trial.