KUALA LUMPUR – The federal government has initiated plans to separate the functions of the attorney-general and public prosecutor to ensure the rule of law and avoid conflict of interest, said Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan today.
In a statement, the minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and law) said the government is always open and ready to embrace steps to preserve its integrity and public confidence in legal bodies, including the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC).
“The plans will be improved through comparative studies of legal systems implemented in other countries and their compatibility with our country’s legal system,” he said.
The Kota Baru MP said the government will not object to the formation of a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) should it be needed, if certain parties have made moves triggering a trust deficit and integrity issues within the legal bodies.
“These bodies are supposed to act as legal advisors to the government, as well as being gatekeepers of criminal justice,” he added.
Takiyuddin’s statement comes in response to Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, who called on the government to set up a RCI to reform the AGC and instil public confidence.
Azalina said that the RCI should comprise top constitutional experts with impeccable impartiality and comparative insights. – The Vibes, July 23, 2021
