Azalina initiates first step in separating AGC, public prosecutor

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said has initiated the first step in separating the public prosecutor’s office from the Attorney-General’s Chambers.

Taking to social media, the Umno lawmaker said the PM Department’s legal affairs division had met with the AGC yesterday for a briefing on the “feasibility” of the split. 

“Following this meeting, the AGC will come up with a paper on the refinements of the AG/PP split.

“This is the first step in separating the powers between the AGC and public prosecutor and I hope the cooperation will bear fruit as soon as possible,” she added.

Various quarters have long called for the separation of the two roles in order to preserve the public prosecutor’s independence.

In September, Bersih urged the government to implement the separation with immediate effect, noting that the AGC had established a working committee to look into the matter last year.

The electoral watchdog cited the public sentiment over the discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) of Umno MP Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim due to a request by the deputy public prosecutor on Sept 23.

It also noted the High Court acquitted Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi of all corruption charges in the foreign visa system (VLN) case on the same day. The prosecution had since filed an appeal.

“The public prosecutor, who has a key role to assist the judiciary in the administration of criminal justice, should manifestly and undoubtedly be seen as independent, impartial, and beyond political interference.

“This can only be done by separating the public prosecutor’s role from that of the politically appointed AG,” it added.

Zahid, who is also facing 47 separate corruption charges, was appointed as deputy prime minister after BN joined hands with Pakatan Harapan to form the government.

Defending the appointment, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the Umno president has not been convicted.

Political analyst Wong Chin Huat had stressed that the separation of the public prosecutor and AGC must be the first reform which Harapan must execute.

“Otherwise, if for what reasons the cases of the court cluster are dropped or won, the public would likely see them as the outcome of political interference,” he added.

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