KUALA LUMPUR: The Parliamentary Special Select Committee on Human Rights, Election and Institutional Reform (JKPK) did not summon Attorney General Datuk Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh and his predecessor Tan Sri Idrus Harun, according to chairman William Leong on Thursday (Sept 14).
Instead, Leong stated that they had invited both individuals to participate in a meeting aimed at gaining a better understanding of several issues related to concerns about conflicts of power and interests, particularly in high-profile cases.
He also emphasized that the committee respects the authority of the Attorney General to exercise discretion in initiating, conducting, or terminating court proceedings as outlined in Article 145(3) of the Federal Constitution.
“The invitation to them is to help the committee understand some of the issues related to concerns about conflicts of power and interests that have arisen, especially in relation to high-profile cases.
“(This is because) the Attorney General is the main legal adviser to the government, and at the same time as a prosecutor, as outlined under Article 145 of the Federal Constitution and Section 376 of the Criminal Procedure Code, particularly in relation to the implications and recommendations for the separation of the two roles and duties,” Leong explained in a statement on Thursday.
Leong also announced that the committee plans to invite various non-governmental organizations, including the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) and the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas), to attend the meeting.
Additionally, he revealed that the Cabinet has agreed to refer the policy scope of the Political Financing Bill to the select committee.
Furthermore, the committee will carefully examine the proposed Political Financing Act to ensure that democratic institutions in Malaysia are protected from unethical and undemocratic activities.
Leong expressed his gratitude to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said for initiating the establishment of two task forces to study the proposal of separating the public prosecutor’s functions from the Attorney General’s Chambers.
He noted that the committee, consisting of MPs from both the government and the Opposition, was able to provide constructive input on the proposal.
Leong regarded the decision to involve MPs in the task force as a positive step towards parliamentary democracy in Malaysia, especially regarding institutional reform issues. – Bernama
Credit: The Star : News Feed
