Azalina to lead special panel on AG-PP separation bill

2026-03-03 - 06:03

Law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said said the committee is permitted to invite MPs, experts, NGOs and individuals to attend proceedings. KUALA LUMPUR: Law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said will lead the special parliamentary committee formed to further deliberate on the bill to separate the roles of the attorney-general and public prosecutor. The Dewan Rakyat approved the motion to refer the constitutional amendment bill to the committee in a voice vote today. The House was then adjourned until the next Dewan Rakyat meeting in June. “The committee will go through the bill, including the accountability mechanism for the public prosecutor, and suggest any necessary amendments on the matter. “It will also prepare a statement containing the suggested amendments within three months. The committee may seek an extension, if necessary,” Azalina said in tabling the motion. She added that the committee was permitted to invite MPs, experts, NGOs and individuals to attend its proceedings. The members of the committee include Noraini Ahmad (BN-Parit Sulong), who is also plantation and commodities minister, and Lo Su Fui (GRS-Tawau), who is deputy federal territories minister. The others from the government bloc are William Leong (PH-Selayang), Syahredzan Johan (PH-Bangi), Adly Zahari (PH-Alor Gajah), Ramkarpal Singh (PH-Bukit Gelugor) and Roy Angau Gingkoi (GPS-Lubok Antu). The opposition representatives in the committee are opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin (independent-Larut), former law minister Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Bharu), Ronald Kiandee (PN-Beluran) and Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Muda-Muar). The bill seeks to amend six articles of the Federal Constitution and introduce two new provisions to establish the public prosecutor as a separate constitutional office, transferring the prosecutorial powers currently vested in the attorney-general to an independent officeholder. Last week, 10 PKR MPs proposed that the bill be referred to a parliamentary special select committee for detailed scrutiny, saying the constitutional amendment should not be rushed given its far-reaching implications. They said Parliament should play a role in appointing the public prosecutor while the bill, in its current form, concentrates power in the prime minister and the Judicial and Legal Service Commission. The MPs also said their support for the bill would depend on whether the government takes their proposals into account. None of the 10 PKR MPs are on the special committee.