KUALA LUMPUR: The proposal to establish a Legislative and Legal Commission requires deeper consideration and analysis, particularly regarding the two key factors of cost and duplicity, the Dewan Negara was told today. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said emphasized the complexities involved in setting up such a body during a session.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Azalina highlighted the issue of duplicity, pointing out that the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) already possesses its own division or department dedicated to law revision and reform. She explained that these departments are staffed by legal experts and practitioners, making the creation of a new commission a complex task. The process requires careful consideration of existing departments and the placement of officers currently serving in them.

Azalina further elaborated on the cost factor, noting that establishing the commission would necessitate the creation of an indepen
dent Act, akin to other commissions in the country. This process would require a phased approach, taking into account various challenges, including legal elements across federal, state, and concurrent lists. She emphasized that the undertaking would be time-consuming.

In response to a supplementary question from Senator Datuk Seri Dr Mujahid Yusof regarding the timeline for the commission’s establishment, Azalina stated that all follow-up actions are currently undergoing an in-depth evaluation by the Legal Reform Task Force. She stressed that the discussion surrounding the commission primarily revolves around institutional reform work and existing laws, such as outdated legislation. Azalina assured that progress continues despite the absence of a commission, indicating that the ongoing work is not hindered by it.