MINISTER in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said has insisted that she was not involved in the re-appointment of Attorney-General Idrus Harun.

She said the reappointment of the Attorney-General was up to the Prime Minister.

“I was not personally involved in the process of re-appointing the Attorney-General.

“I want to stress that perhaps the Prime Minister has his own reasons for extending the Attorney-General’s appointment for six more months. Maybe he (Idrus) has some unfinished business,” she told a media conference after officiating the launching of the Financial Literacy Programme for Legal Aid and Insolvency Clinic, in Kota Tinggi, today.

She said this when asked to comment on allegations by certain parties on social media, questioning the involvement of the Pengerang member of parliament in the appointment of the Attorney-General.

Azalina said that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah had approved the reappointment of Idrus in accordance with Clause (1) Article 145 of the Federal Constitution.

Yesterday, Chief Secretary to the Government Mohd Zuki Ali announced the reappointment of Idrus as the Attorney-General for six months effective Monday (March 6).

On another matter, Azalina said the Insolvency Act 1967 (Act 360), which will be amended, will be tabled in Parliament early next month.

She said six policy proposals will be tabled, including improvements so that individuals can be released from bankruptcy in a short period of time.

“The Prime Minister, in his Budget speech recently did mention insolvency for release from bankruptcy, and we expect this amendment to the Insolvency Act to benefit 130,000 individuals from 260,000 bankruptcy cases,” she said.

She said the Prime Minister’s Department will improve and expand the jurisdiction of the Legal Aid Department, in addition to the National Legal Aid Foundation that is also being improved through specific acts and certain agencies to provide services involving criminal cases. – Bernama, March 4, 2023.