Law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said said a comparative study task force will conduct evidence-based research in countries like the UK, Australia, Canada and Kenya to learn from global best practices involving the matter.
Meanwhile, a separate technical task force will examine the legal and financial implications, among others, of separating the AG’s roles.
Azalina said the separation of the roles of the AG and public prosecutor would involve amendments to the Federal Constitution and existing laws and regulations, as well as great financial and staffing implications to the government.
She also said that discussions with other stakeholders, such as the police, would be held soon.
“Discussions with other enforcement agencies, such as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, Royal Malaysian Customs Department, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, and other parties will be held by the separate technical task force as soon as possible.
“The reform agenda is important in ensuring stronger democratic governance and improving the administration of law, in line with the unity government’s commitment to ensuring good administration, legal systems, and governance,” she said.
Earlier, it was reported Ahmad Terrirudin Salleh and his predecessor, Idrus Harun, would appear before a parliamentary select committee looking into the separation of the public prosecutor’s role from that of the AG.
William Leong, the chairman for the special select committee on human rights, elections, and institutional reform, said they would also summon Azalina and the Prime Minister’s Department’s legal affairs division director-general, Khairul Dzaimee Daud.
Leong said the individuals would be called in view of allegations that the Attorney-General’s Chambers had meddled in several high-profile cases, including the conditional discharge granted to deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in his corruption case.
Last week, Zahid was granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal on all 47 of his corruption, criminal breach of trust and money laundering charges.
He had been accused of embezzling millions of ringgit from his foundation, Yayasan Akalbudi, and accepting bribes for various projects during his tenure as the home minister between 2013 and 2018.
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