Led by Shah Alam MP Azli Yusof, the group proposed that the legislation expressly provide for parliamentary oversight, including regular reporting and independent review of prosecutorial powers.
KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 26): The federal government is facing mounting pressure to review a bill to create a separate public prosecutor as more cross-party groups call for the bill to be postponed.
The Parliamentary Cross-Party Group Malaysia on Integrity, Governance and Anti-Corruption called for the bill to be referred to a parliamentary select committee to enable thorough review and expert input before it is passed.
While the group supports the decoupling of the dual roles currently held by the attorney general, the bill must include a clear accountability mechanism to ensure effective checks and balances.
The remarks come on the heels of the freshly tabled bill that will carve out a separate public prosecutor role and office from the attorney general to fulfil one of the government's long-promised reforms.
The proposed term of office for the public prosecutor is seven years. The attorney general, meanwhile, will continue advising the government on matters of law though matters involving criminal law and procedures will fall under the public prosecutor’s purview.
The group — a bipartisan platform of members of Parliament, senators, academics and non-governmental organisations that discusses public interest issues and provides recommendations — currently includes 12 MPs from both sides and two senators.
Led by Shah Alam MP Azli Yusof, the group proposed that the legislation expressly provide for parliamentary oversight, including regular reporting and independent review of prosecutorial powers.
“Effective checks and balances can only exist if power is not centralised in a single individual,” the group said in a statement, adding that the public prosecutor should not have absolute authority to initiate, conduct or discontinue proceedings without being answerable to the Parliament.
The group said the appointment structure still reflects executive influence, noting that the body responsible for nominating the public prosecutor is chaired by an official appointed on the prime minister’s advice.
Under the bill tabled earlier this week, candidates for the public prosecutor will be nominated by the Judicial and Legal Service Commission (SPKP) chaired by the Public Service Commission head.
The group also said that it would be inappropriate for the public prosecutor to sit on a commission that oversees judicial appointments and discipline, and for the attorney general to be involved in managing the prosecution service.
The group proposed removing both the public prosecutor and attorney general from the SPKP, restructuring the commission to ensure independence from the executive, and splitting it into separate Prosecution Commission and Legal Service Commission.
The call echoes earlier demands by 10 MPs led by Pandan MP Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli for stronger parliamentary oversight and safeguards. They have warned they may not support the bill if it is pushed through without any changes.