[UPDATED] Still here: Azalina remains PM’s special adviser on law

KUALA LUMPUR – Despite her apparent swipe over the attorney-general’s (AG) appointment, Pengerang MP Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said remains the prime minister’s special adviser on law and human rights.

In a brief Facebook post today, she affirmed that, as of now, she is still keeping her appointment.

Last Saturday, she told a 3,000-strong crowd that the prime minister of the ruling coalition should appoint an AG from their own ranks.

In a separate post, Azalina uploaded a “Did You Know” poster indicating how Malaysia’s third prime minister, Tun Hussein Onn, had similarly appointed two former AGs who were Umno members. 

The poster noted that despite this, the country’s legal system is still preserved. 

The two AGs were Tan Sri Abdul Kadir Yusof and Tan Sri Hamzah Abu Samah, both former MPs and cabinet members.

“I don’t care if what I say angers the people, but whoever is the prime minister must appoint the AG from his own people,” she said to roaring applause.

She said the AG is accorded such tremendous power under the constitution, including the authority to prosecute or drop criminal charges against any individual.

“This is why it remains the norm for other democratic countries to appoint their nation’s top legal officer from the ranks of the ruling coalition or supporters. 

“If we look at the history of any democratic nation, any changes of the AG will follow the will of their leaders. 

“Enough, I do not want to talk too much. Later we all will get arrested,” she said in jest. 

Azalina also alluded to external influences in former Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s SRC final appeal hearing as his bid for adjournment and adducing fresh evidence is rejected by the court.

She was appointed special adviser on September 30 but only confirmed it on October 2.

She had resigned as deputy Dewan Rakyat speaker on August 23 last year to allow the government and opposition to “reset” Parliament, and to carry out her duties without fear or favour. – The Vibes, August 31, 2022