THE first meeting to look into the proposed separation of powers between the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) and the public prosecutor’s office today agreed to form two special task forces as part of the government’s effort to expedite institutional reforms, Law and Institutional Reform Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Azalina Othman Said said.

She said the proposed task force for comparative study will conduct evidence-based research from several countries such as England, Australia, Canada and Kenya to obtain more information that cannot be accessed through open data studies of global best practices.

Azalina is part of this task force, which also has representatives from the Special Select Committee on Human Rights, Elections and Institutional Reforms, opposition MPs, AGC and Legal Affairs Division (BHEUU).

“The technical task force will be fully handled by the AGC and BHEUU to comprehensively examine the legislative, staffing and financial implications,” she said in a statement today.

Azalina said the technical task force will prepare an interim report within one year on the comprehensive empirical research on the separation of the roles of the public prosecutor and the attorney-general, including taking into account the results of the study based on evidence and the presentation of the results of the empirical research for consideration by the cabinet.

She said engagement and discussion sessions with stakeholders such as the police, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, Customs Department and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency will be held by the technical task force soon.

“The reform agenda is important in ensuring a more robust democratic governance and improving the administration of law in line with the unity government’s commitment to uphold good administration, legal system and governance,” she said.

Azalina said the separation of the roles of the attorney-general and the public prosecutor will involve amendments to the Federal Constitution and laws as well as related regulations in addition to bringing great financial and staffing implications to the government.

She said today’s meeting also discussed the terms of reference and the challenges faced in implementing these reforms.

“The outcome of the discussion will be announced in the next cabinet meeting for further consideration,” she said. – Bernama, September 12, 2023.