00:00A public prosecutor should provide reasons for prosecutorial actions, especially when
00:06withdrawing charges in high-profile cases, says lawyer Rafiq Rashid Ali.
00:11He argued that public prosecutors could demonstrate transparency by furnishing to the court their
00:15reasons for discontinuing a case or through a media statement to inform the public.
00:21Rafiq said the public prosecutor needs to be accountable to the people, noting that
00:25this trait has been lacking among those holding office in recent years.
00:30As an example, Rafiq said the Attorney General has remained mum for more than a year over
00:35Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zayed Hamidi's discharge from 47 corruption charges.
00:41Rafiq's comments were in response to former Law Minister Zayed Ibrahim's call for the
00:45government to appoint an elected MP as AG so that he is accountable to Parliament for his decisions.
00:52Former Malaysian Bar President Raghunath Kesavan said Zayed may be suggesting that the AG limit
00:57his function to providing legal advice to the government and allow the Solicitor General to
01:02concentrate on all prosecutorial duties. Meanwhile, lawyer Kitson Fung said a
01:07conflict of interest would arise when one person holds both roles of AG and public prosecutor,
01:12especially if they are required to prosecute Cabinet members.
01:16On Saturday, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the several politically motivated cases
01:20started hastily after the 2018 general election were flawed,
01:24and his Cabinet has agreed to separate the functions of the AG and public prosecutor.
01:30Natasha Biest, FMT News.
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