Parliament to Strengthen Oversight Role in Public Prosecutor Appointment Under Proposed Reforms
KUALA LUMPUR: Parliament is set to assume a stronger oversight role in the appointment of the Public Prosecutor through a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC), under proposed institutional reforms aimed at reinforcing judicial independence and accountability.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said the proposal reflects the MADANI Government’s commitment to advancing legal and institutional reforms while enhancing public confidence in Malaysia’s justice system.
She said the proposal received unanimous support during the seventh meeting of the Parliamentary Special Select Committee on Institutional Reform, which comprises members from both the government and opposition benches.
According to Azalina, the new framework removes the Prime Minister and the Cabinet from any involvement in appointing the Public Prosecutor, reducing the possibility of political influence over the prosecution process.
Under the proposed mechanism, the Judicial and Legal Service Commission (JLSC) will submit a list of qualified candidates to the Parliamentary Select Committee for evaluation.
The committee will review each nominee and decide whether to recommend the candidates before the appointments proceed through the constitutional process.
Azalina said Parliament would have full authority to determine its own procedures and operating framework through the Standing Orders and relevant federal legislation, consistent with the constitutional principle of separation of powers.
She added that the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2026, which separates the functions of the Attorney General and the Public Prosecutor, will be retabled for its second reading during the current Dewan Rakyat sitting after incorporating recommendations made by the bipartisan committee.
Meanwhile, Selayang MP William Leong Jee Keen said assigning Parliament an oversight function is consistent with Articles 62(1) and 83(3) of the Federal Constitution.
He explained that the Parliamentary Select Committee would examine each candidate’s qualifications, professional competence and overall suitability before forwarding its recommendations to the Judicial and Legal Service Commission for presentation to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong after consultation with the Conference of Rulers.
Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman described the separation of the Attorney General’s and Public Prosecutor’s roles as one of Malaysia’s most significant legal reforms, arguing that it would end the Executive’s dominant influence over the prosecution system.
He also called on Members of Parliament from all political parties to support the proposed constitutional amendments in the interest of strengthening the rule of law and safeguarding the independence of the country’s legal institutions.
