KUALA LUMPUR, November 4 – Political support from both sides of Parliament is vital to passing the proposed AG-PP separation amendment, says Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) said the government needs wider political support.
She believes a broader Confidence and Supply Agreement (CSA) could help secure that support.
Azalina said the reform should benefit the country. It should not become a political issue.
She spoke after opening the Asian Insolvency Reform 2026 forum in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.
Azalina Targets 148 Parliamentary Votes
Azalina hopes the proposed amendment will receive at least 148 votes in the 222-seat Dewan Rakyat.
She said four parliamentary seats were excluded from the calculation. This leaves 218 eligible MPs.
She believes support from different political parties would strengthen the reform.
It would also show that Parliament supports a more independent legal system.
Azalina warned against turning the issue into a political dispute. She said the reform should continue even when a new government takes office.
The separation aims to reduce public concerns about political influence over prosecution decisions.
Wider CSA Could Strengthen Political Support
Azalina said a wider CSA could encourage cooperation between political parties.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof is handling the CSA discussions.
She said the agreement would focus on two major reforms.
The first is the separation of the Attorney-General and Public Prosecutor roles. The second is a proposed limit on the Prime Minister’s tenure.
On October 29, the Madani Government signed a CSA with 13 opposition and independent MPs.
The group included Bersatu representatives led by party president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman was also among them.
On October 31, Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi proposed expanding the agreement.
He suggested including political parties from both sides of Parliament.
Legal Changes Could Take About One Year
Azalina stressed that passing the amendment would not complete the reform.
The government must also prepare around 21 supporting laws. Parliament must approve these laws before the separation can take full effect.
She estimated that the process could take about one year.
This timeline reflects Parliament’s limited number of sittings each year.
Therefore, the government must prepare the necessary legislation carefully.
Azalina said consistent implementation is important. It would help protect the reform from future political changes.
She added that the proposed separation should strengthen public confidence in Malaysia’s justice system.
Source : THE STAR | Rewritten By Minutesmy
