THE federal government should consider separating the attorney-general and public prosecutor roles within the next one year, Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng said. 

He said this would instil public confidence towards the unity government. 

“Only with this step, I believe we can convince the people that the spirit of reform that exists in this unity government is still smouldering and unlike as claimed by some parties,” the DAP national chairman said. 

“Of course there could be a committee established (to look into it) but if we can give it a one-year period, this will convince the people that the unity government has good intentions,” he added. 

Lim’s call comes following the court’s decision to drop Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s 47 graft charges.

Last week, High Court judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah granted Zahid a discharge not amounting to acquittal in his Yayasan Akalbudi corruption trial. 

Sequerah made the ruling after listening to the prosecution’s submission.

Yesterday, Putrajaya announced the formation of two special task forces to kick-start institutional reforms to separate the attorney-general’s roles as both the government’s legal adviser and public prosecutor.

Law and Institutional Reform Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Azalina Othman Said said the two task forces – comparative study and technical – seek to expedite the reform process over long-standing concerns about the possible conflicts of interest in the attorney-general serving both functions.

Referring to recent decisions made by the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC), Lim said certain quarters might not be satisfied with the outcome.

Hence he called on the newly appointed Attorney-General Ahmad Terrirudin Salleh to provide a detailed explanation on how the decisions were made. 

“I would like to request that the newly appointed AG provide further explanations about some of the decisions made because the government has to admit that there are still certain parties who are not satisfied, including the Malaysian Bar. 

“I think a more comprehensive and transparent explanation will be able to convince the people about what the AGC decided,” the former finance minister said. 

Last week, the Bar slammed the AGC, saying it had tarnished its reputation and credibility when it applied to drop charges against Zahid. – September 13, 2023.