Malaysia to Re-Table Bill Separating Attorney-General Role and Limiting PM’s Term

PUTRAJAYA, April 2 — The Malaysian government will re-table a constitutional amendment bill that seeks to separate the roles of the Attorney-General and Public Prosecutor while also introducing a limit on the tenure of the prime minister. The announcement was made by Azalina Othman Said, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department responsible for Law and Institutional Reform.

According to Azalina, the bill — formally known as the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2026 — will be presented again at the next parliamentary sitting as part of the government’s ongoing legal reform programme. The initiative is part of Phase II of the MADANI Accountability Framework, which is scheduled to run from May to August 2026.

One of the key proposals in the bill is the separation of the Attorney-General’s role from that of the Public Prosecutor. Currently, the Attorney-General holds both responsibilities, but reform advocates have long argued that separating the roles would strengthen institutional independence and improve the integrity of the legal system.

Another major component of the proposed amendment is the introduction of a limit on the tenure of the Malaysian prime minister. Under the proposal, a prime minister would only be allowed to serve a maximum of 10 years in total, whether continuously or through multiple terms.

The reform bill was previously tabled in Parliament earlier this year but failed to pass after it fell short of the required two-thirds majority needed for constitutional amendments. The government now intends to reintroduce the proposal in hopes of gaining sufficient support from lawmakers.

Azalina said the second phase of reforms under the MADANI framework aims to strengthen institutional integrity, human rights protection, and the country’s judicial system. Several other legislative initiatives are also expected to be introduced during the upcoming parliamentary sessions.

Among the upcoming proposals are the drafting of a Malaysian Ombudsman Bill and a Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, both designed to increase government transparency and accountability.

In addition, the government plans to establish an Anti-Bullying Tribunal as part of broader reforms to improve protections for victims and address bullying cases more effectively under the Anti-Bullying Act 2026.

The government said these initiatives reflect its commitment to implementing structural reforms aimed at strengthening governance and building a more transparent, accountable, and resilient legal system for Malaysia’s future.