KUALA LUMPUR: Lim Guan Eng has called for the separation of the offices of the Attorney General (AG) and the Public Prosecutor (PP) within a year to address criticisms. During a parliamentary debate on the 12th Malaysia Plan mid-term review, Lim expressed his hope that the government would allow a year for this separation to be completed. He believes that this step is necessary to restore confidence among the people in the unity government and dismiss any claims to the contrary.
The chairman of the Democratic Action Party (DAP) also called on the recently-appointed AG, Datuk Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh, to provide a clear explanation of recent decisions related to various cases. Lim emphasized the need for transparency, stating that there is still dissatisfaction among many quarters, including the Bar Council. He believes that an open and comprehensive explanation would reassure the people about the decisions made by the AG.
A dispute arose in Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday over the recent discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) granted to Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. In response to opposition chief whip Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan’s criticism of DAP leaders’ silence on the issue, Takiyuddin mispronounced the slogan “reformasi” as “reformati”.
Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform), announced that two special task forces would be established to study and expedite the separation of the AG and PP offices. Additionally, the Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC) on Human Rights, Election, and Institutional Reform plans to call former AG Tan Sri Idrus Harun and Ahmad Zahid’s lawyers to explain the DNAA.
The PSSC will also investigate the acquittal of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and former 1MDB chief executive officer Arul Kanda Kandasamy in the 1MDB audit tampering case, as well as the acquittal of former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on charges of power abuse. Meanwhile, Datuk Dr. Radzi Jidin criticized Pakatan for failing to fulfill its promise of changing Idrus as AG when they came to power.
In response, Lim urged Radzi not to engage in political games and double standards while in the House. He noted that Perikatan Nasional did not complain about previous appointments retained during their administration.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
