Azalina said the proposal is in line with the Cabinet’s agreement in principle in September to adopt a full separation model for the roles of the attorney-general and the public prosecutor, The Edge reported.

In her winding-up speech for her ministry during the debate on Budget 2026, Azalina said the proposal would be subject to review by a technical committee before a final decision is reached.

“I believe this reflects the government’s commitment to strengthening transparency and accountability within the country’s legal administration, with the proposed appointment approach being unprecedented under any previous government,” she told the Dewan Rakyat.

Earlier today, Azalina’s deputy, M Kulasegaran, dismissed claims that the government was dragging its feet on its plan to separate the roles of the attorney-general and the public prosecutor, reiterating its full commitment to executing this institutional reform.

Kulasegaran said the government was “100% committed” to carrying out this reform.

However, he said the delay in implementing it was because of stakeholder discussions which, he maintained, were necessary to ensure the bill was holistic.

He said the government would give a timeframe for the bill to separate the roles of the attorney-general and the public prosecutor next year.

Azalina had previously said the government was also considering transferring the Attorney-General’s Chambers’ drafting division to be under Parliament, following international practice of separating law-drafting and legal advisory functions.

She said a detailed policy and legal review to assess its institutional and governance implications would first need to be done.

If implemented, she said, the move would enhance transparency, expedite the legislative drafting process, and strengthen Parliament’s autonomy as the nation’s highest legislative institution.

The Prime Minister’s Department’s legal affairs division had previously said it would draft amendments to several articles of the constitution, a new reform bill and a new Act for the separation of roles.