Tabling Of AG-PP Separation Bill Expected Next Month - Azalina

KUALA LUMPUR, May 18 (Bernama) -- The Constitutional amendment Bill related to the separation of the roles of the Attorney General (AG) and Public Prosecutor (PP) is expected to be tabled during next month’s Parliamentary sitting.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said the draft amendment Bill had been finalised and received the approval of the Parliamentary Special Select Committee on the Constitutional Amendment during its sixth meeting today.

“We have prepared a draft constitutional amendment, which I believe will receive support from Members of Parliament from both the government and opposition.

“I hope that when we table this amendment Bill, it will mark a historic change for our country, where for the first time since independence we establish a separation between the roles of the Attorney General and the Public Prosecutor,” she told a press conference after the meeting here today.

Among those present at the meeting were Parit Sulong Member of Parliament (MP) cum Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad, Kota Bharu MP Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, as well as representatives from the Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister’s Department and the Attorney General’s Chambers.

Azalina said opposition lawmakers had also been urged to support the Bill, as the proposed amendment would benefit the public as a whole.

“We would like to inform the public that this is exactly what institutional reform is all about. Taking into account and making sure that the roles of AG-PP in our country are separated.

“So I hope this historic change will set a new precedent for our country in the years to come,” she said.

The next Parliamentary sitting is scheduled to run for 16 days beginning June 22.

On March 3, the Dewan Rakyat agreed to refer the Bill to the Parliamentary Special Select Committee to allow all relevant parties to further scrutinise and refine the proposed legislation.

The Parliamentary Special Select Committee is chaired by Azalina and comprises 11 MPs from both the government and opposition blocs.

-- BERNAMA