PARLIAMENT | The government will table a bill to separate the role of public prosecutor from the attorney-general (AG) by next year, said Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M Kulasegaran.

The process to make the change is taking some time because there are steps that Putrajaya has to follow, according to Kulasegaran, but he stressed that the government is committed to seeing to the reform.

“There is no problem for us to amend Article 145 of the Federal Constitution because we (government) possess more than a two-thirds majority in Parliament.

“However, we still have to do the empirical study. You used to be a minister, you know that it is very easy said than done when it comes to bringing reforms.

“Because we have to hold discussions with stakeholders, with NGOs. Many times NGOs came to see us for clarification. On top of this, we also have to (meet with) select committees,” he said during a question and answer time at the Dewan Rakyat this morning.

Kulasegaran was responding to a supplementary question from Teresa Kok (Harapan-Seputeh), who wanted to know why the government is taking a long time to separate the role of public prosecutor from the AG.

Bersih and the Malaysian Bar have persistently demanded the separation of powers between the two roles, which are held by a single person.

In September last year, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim reaffirmed the government’s commitment to separate the roles and powers of the attorney-general and public prosecutor but pointed out that it cannot be bulldozed through.

In April, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said reportedly said the process to separate the roles will be implemented in phases over two years.

Aliran agrees with Zaid, no need for world tours to split AG, PP roles

Aliran agrees with Zaid, no need for world tours to split AG, PP roles

AG, PP separation: Scotland is heavenly, Zaid moots another study tour for Azalina

AG, PP separation: Scotland is heavenly, Zaid moots another study tour for Azalina

Zaid questions extent of AG, PP powers to impose or drop charges

Zaid questions extent of AG, PP powers to impose or drop charges

Azalina, delegation in Australia for empirical study on AG-PP separation

Azalina, delegation in Australia for empirical study on AG-PP separation

Empirical study on AG-PP separation to be completed this year - Azalina

Empirical study on AG-PP separation to be completed this year - Azalina

AG-PP separation to take two years - Azalina

AG-PP separation to take two years - Azalina