KUALA LUMPUR: Minister in Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said questioned why Perikatan Nasional (PN) did not separate the powers between the Attorney-General (AG) and public prosecutor when they were in power for four years.
Azalina said, it becomes selective prosecution when you are facing it but not when the situation is reserved for this side (the government).
“I was on the opposition side and I had raised it many times when you did not even speak up.
“Do not talk about selective prosecution because MADANI government is committed in ensuring fairer governance,” Azalina said in Dewan Rakyat today (Monday).
She stressed that the Unity Government “walk the talk” but the opposition did not even “talk or walk”.
Azalina hinted that separation of powers was never Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) priority during the four years it governed.
The minister said that in response to opposition leader, Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin’s allegation that the Unity Government has implemented many selective and political prosecutions towards the opposition Members of Parliament.
Hamzah (PN-Larut) earlier claimed that the charges faced by former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s over Jana Wibawa case was part of the alleged selective and political prosecution by the Unity Government.
However he said, the discharge given towards Muhyiddin had further indicated that the latter was not guilty.
Meanwhile as reported by NST, Azalina added that any discharge given by the court towards an individual would be based on courtesy given by the A-G, in line with Act 145 of the Federal Constitution and cannot be questioned.
“The A-G can charge or discharge anyone, even the prime minister. That is his power. However, that does not mean that anyone cannot be charged again, including those given a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA),” she said. –Malaysia World News
