Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat, Kulasegaran dismissed concerns over Dusuki’s selection.
“The government made the wisest and best decision based on seniority. He is experienced and recognised as a capable lawyer,” he said during an oral question-and-answer session.
“I can say this because I have personally faced him in numerous court cases, and he is above it all. So, there is independence and integrity in this matter.”
Kulasegaran was responding to a supplementary question from Abdul Ghani Ahmad (PN-Jerlun), who asked the government to clarify its commitment to using a parliamentary select committee for future AG appointments to improve transparency and accountability.
Ghani referenced a statement by electoral watchdog Bersih, which raised concerns about Dusuki’s previous involvement in prosecuting deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in the Yayasan Akalbudi case.
Zahid was granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal on charges of corruption, money laundering, and criminal breach of trust after prosecutors applied for it.
In response, Kulasegaran said that Dusuki was not the only deputy public prosecutor involved in the case.
“There were other lawyers (deputy public prosecutors) as well. He was one of them,” he said.
He also welcomed the proposal to involve a select committee in future AG appointments, calling it “a good idea” for the government’s consideration.
Kula also said the government was aiming to separate the powers of the attorney-general from the public prosecutor “at the very least” by next year.
He said the Cabinet had agreed last August to commission an empirical study first, with an interim report to be ready by 2025.
“We have the two-thirds (majority) and we can amend Article 145 (of the Federal Constitution), so it’s not a problem.
“But the empirical study must be done because, to bring change, it’s usually easier said than done,” he said in response to Teresa Kok (PH-Seputeh).
Kok had asked why it was taking Putrajaya two years to implement the reform, saying the bill to separate the two offices should be ready by the March session next year.