Draft on separation of AG powers expected to be ready by mid-2025 - PM

The cabinet draft paper on the separation of powers between the attorney-general and the public prosecutor is expected to be ready by the middle of next year, said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

He said the cabinet has accepted the proposed division of functions and a minister has been assigned to lead a task force to oversee the matter.

Acknowledging the complexity of the issue, Anwar emphasised that the draft paper requires time to complete, as it involves numerous amendments, including the Federal Constitution.

“Having said that, it will run through, hopefully by the middle of next year.

“I haven’t seen the draft yet. The only paper presented so far was a policy decision, on whether we agree with the division that has been passed by the cabinet,” he said in a press conference today.

The special media conference was also attended by the Communications Ministry secretary-general Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa, along with approximately 100 local and international journalists.

Challenges

Anwar elaborated on the challenges involved, emphasising that the separation of powers between AG and PP is not merely a division of responsibilities, but a crucial step in preserving the integrity of the office.

“To me, the issue is not (only) the usual division of duties… it’s the integrity of the office,” he emphasised.

On Thursday, a coalition of NGOs called on Anwar to announce a clear timeline for the separation of the public prosecution function from the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC).

In March last year, Anwar announced in the Dewan Rakyat that the government was considering a proposal to separate the prosecutor’s office from the AGC.

According to the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said, the first phase of the empirical study on the separation of roles of the AG and PP is expected to conclude once the research conducted by the Special Task Force on Comparative Studies in the United Kingdom is completed.

The separation of roles aims to strengthen the independence and integrity of the legal system, ensuring that prosecutorial decisions are made without undue influence and that the AG can serve as an impartial legal adviser to the government.

Ministers performing well

Anwar has expressed satisfaction with the performance of all ministers after two years of the Madani administration.

However, he noted there is still room for improvement in enhancing the government’s achievements for the benefit of the people.

Anwar said that during this period, some ministers demonstrated excellent performance while others showed moderate results.

“But I am satisfied with one thing: even though issues like corruption have been raised, the most important thing over the past two years is that I have not allowed the old practices of direct negotiations, commission theft and so on. I’ve put a stop to that,” he said.

- Bernama

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