THE Parliamentary Special Select Committee on Human Rights, Election and Institutional Reform did not summon Attorney-General Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh and his predecessor, Idrus Harun, to explain the decision to withdraw all 47 corruption charges against Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, its chairman William Leong said today.

He said instead, they had only been invited to be part of a meeting to help the select committee get an understanding of several issues regarding concerns about conflicts of power and interests, especially in high-profile cases.

He said the committee also respects the power of the AG in exercising discretion to initiate, conduct or stop court proceedings in accordance with article 145(3) of the Federal Constitution.

“The invitation to them is to help the committee understand some of the issues related to concerns about conflicts of power and interests that have arisen,” he said in a statement today.

“(This is because) the attorney-general is the main legal adviser to the government and at the same time, as a prosecutor, as outlined under article 145 of the Federal Constitution and section 376 of the criminal procedure code, particularly in relation to the implications and recommendations for the separation of the two roles and duties.”

Leong said the committee will also invite several civil society organisations such as the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections and Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs to attend the meeting.

He also said the cabinet had agreed to refer the policy scope of the Political Financing Bill to the select committee.

He said the committee will study it to ensure that democratic institutions in the country are free from unhealthy and undemocratic activities.

Leong also expressed his appreciation to Law and Institutional Reform Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Azalina Othman Said for setting up two task forces to examine and study the proposal to separate the public prosecutor’s functions from the Attorney-General Chambers.

He said the move to involve MPs in the task forces indirectly signifies a healthy development towards parliamentary democracy in Malaysia, especially in relation to issues of institutional reform. – Bernama, September 14, 2023.