Government needs to study method of appointing Attorney General - Mohamad Hasan

KUALA LUMPUR: The government needs to immediately make important reforms related to the appointment of the Attorney General and the separation of posts between the Attorney General and the Public Prosecutor, said UMNO Deputy President, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

Mohamad made the proposal following the book by the former Attorney General, Tan Sri Tommy Thomas, "My Story: Justice in the Wilderness" which he described as revealing the power of the Attorney General and his department in the administration of national laws.

He also suggested that the appointment procedure to meet all the features of transparency and competence for positions of public interest with extraordinary powers such as the Attorney General.

"Malaysia must have a more transparent and credible method in appointing a Attorney General.

"The appointment of the Attorney General as the absolute prerogative of a Prime Minister should be re-evaluated.

“It is even more worrying when nominations come from certain individuals who have interests and through conversations with the Prime Minister as written by Tun Dr Mahathir (Mohamad) himself.

"Malaysia must have an appointment procedure that meets all the features of transparency and competence for positions of public interest with extraordinary powers such as the Attorney General," he said in a statement on Thursday.

At the same time, Mohamad suggested that the power of prosecution currently held by the Attorney General should be limited by separating the post of Public Prosecutor.

He said the government should consider separating the roles of the two positions by appointing the Attorney General and the Public Prosecutor to carry out different functions.

“The power to centralise everything to an individual must be limited.

"It may be appropriate for the government to consider the separation of the roles by appointing the Attorney General and the Public Prosecutor to perform different functions," he added.

Mohamad explained that preparations towards implementing the changes need to be done even though the effort to amend Article 145 (3) of the Federal Constitution is difficult and requires the support of two-thirds majority in the Dewan Rakyat.