Kuala Lumpur: The government is still studying and evaluating the proposed separation of the roles of the Attorney-General (AG) and Public Prosecutor (PP), said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said. She expressed hope that a decision on the matter can be reached before the next general election.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Azalina emphasized the importance of specialized knowledge for prosecutors, stating, “If you are a prosecutor, sometimes you end up serving in that role for many years, as it is a specialized scheme requiring specialized knowledge.” She mentioned that the MADANI government is conducting an empirical study, comparing the current system with those of other countries, to determine if prosecutors should be entirely dedicated to prosecution work.

Azalina further explained that the study is ongoing and expressed optimism that a decision would be made before the next general election regarding the separation of the AG’s role as the government’s legal advisor and as the PP. Her comments were made during the launching ceremony of the AI Legal Justice Roadmap 2025-2026 and Peta Reformasi Institusi (PetaRI).

She highlighted the complexity of the proposed separation, noting that it involves several technical considerations. “We need to bring it to several committees first. Once a decision is made, we will forward it to the policy division,” Azalina added.