Kuala lumpur: The roles of the Attorney General and Public Prosecutor need to be separated to ensure a more independent prosecution institution and better accountability, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said. She emphasized that this move will also enable the Attorney General to be held directly accountable in Parliament, thus improving transparency within the country's legal system and strengthening institutional checks and balances.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Azalina highlighted the current situation where the law minister answers for the Attorney General in Parliament, questioning the fairness of responding to matters beyond their full knowledge. Her remarks were made during the closing session of the MADANI Accountability Framework Townhall 2026. A survey conducted by the National Law Students' Association (NLSA) found that law students advocate for the separation of roles, accompanied by an independent appointment mechanism, security of tenure, and comprehensive legal amendments. The survey involved 2,243 respondents from 12 Malaysian universities.

Azalina mentioned that the Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC) is currently examining the separation of the roles of the Attorney General and Public Prosecutor. The committee is working to ensure the Public Prosecutor can operate independently, free from fear or favor, which is crucial for fair and impartial prosecutions. She also addressed the perception that the appointment of the Attorney General is linked to political appointments, suggesting that the Public Prosecutor's appointment should be separate to maintain prosecutorial independence.

The PSSC on Constitutional Amendments aims to finalize a bill on this matter soon, with plans to table it before the final meeting on May 18. The Dewan Rakyat had agreed on March 3 to refer the bill to the Special Select Committee, chaired by Azalina, which includes 11 Members of Parliament from both government and opposition parties, to thoroughly refine and examine the proposed changes.