Institusi Peguam Negara: Sudah Tiba Masanya Kerajaan Fikirkan Dua Reformasi Penting

BUKU Tommy Thomas, “My Story: Justice in the Wilderness” telah mengundang pelbagai reaksi pemimpin dan masyarakat Malaysia.

Saya tidak ingin mengulas tentang isu, peristiwa dan pengkisahan beliau. Itu memoir beliau dan pandangan beliau tidak semestinya benar, sahih dan berwibawa. Yang pasti beliau harus bertanggungjawab dengan apa yang beliau tuliskan.

Saya hanya ingin menyentuh tentang suatu perkara. Iaitu buku tersebut telah memaparkan betapa maha berkuasanya seorang Peguam Negara dan institusi tersebut.

Perincian segala peristiwa yang dinyatakan dalam buku tersebut memaparkan betapa meluasnya pengaruh Peguam Negara serta jabatannya dalam pentadbiran undang-undang negara.

Ini mewajarkan untuk Kerajaan memikirkan semula dua reformasi penting.

Pertama ialah perlantikan seorang Peguam Negara.

Malaysia mesti mempunyai kaedah yang lebih telus dan berwibawa dalam perlantikan seorang Peguam Negara.

Perlantikan Peguam Negara sebagai prerogatif mutlak seorang Perdana Menteri wajar dinilai semula. Lebih merisaukan bila pencalonan datang dari individu tertentu yang berkepentingan dan melalui perbualan dengan Perdana Menteri seperti yang di tulis oleh Tun Mahathir sendiri.

Malaysia mesti mempunyai tatacara perlantikan yang menepati segala ciri ketelusan dan kompetensi bagi jawatan berkepentingan awam dengan kuasa yang luar biasa seperti Peguam Negara.

Kedua, ialah pemisahan antara jawatan Peguam Negara dengan Pendakwa Raya.

Kuasa yang memusatkan segalanya kepada seorang individu mesti dihadkan.

Mungkin wajar untuk Kerajaan mempertimbangkan pemisahan peranan tersebut dengan melantik Peguam Negara dan Pendakwa Raya bagi menjalankan fungsi yang berbeza.

Walaupun saya realistik bahawa meminda perkara 145(3) Perlembagaan Persekutuan memerlukan sokongan majoriti 2/3 di Dewan Rakyat dan adalah sukar, namun persediaan ke arah matlamat tersebut mesti dilakukan demi pelaksanaan dan pentadbiran undang-undang yang dihormati dan berwibawa.

Dato’ Seri Utama Mohamad Haji Hasan
Timbalan Presiden UMNO

Consider two major reforms for AG institution

I DO not wish to comment his issues, events and narratives. That is his memoir and his views are not necessarily true, authentic and authoritative. To be sure, he should be responsible for what he writes.
I just want to touch on one thing. That is, the book has shown how powerful a Attorney General and the institution are. Details of all the events mentioned in the book show how widespread the influence of the Attorney General and his department in the administration of national law is.
This justifies the Government to rethink two important reforms.
The first is the appointment of a Attorney General.
Malaysia must have a more transparent and credible method in appointing a Attorney General.
The appointment of a Attorney General as the absolute prerogative of a Prime Minister deserves to be reconsidered. It is even more worrying when nominations are from certain individuals who have interest with the Prime Minister as written by Tun Mahathir himself.
Malaysia must have an appointment procedure that meets all the features of transparency and competence for public interest positions with extraordinary powers such as the Attorney General.
Second, is the separation between the position of Attorney General and the Public Prosecutor.
The power to centralize everything to an individual must be limited. It may be appropriate for the Government to consider the separation of these roles by appointing the Attorney General and the Public Prosecutor to perform different functions.
Although I am realistic that amending Article 145 (3) of the Federal Constitution requires the support of a 2/3 majority in the House of Representatives, which is quite difficult, the preparations however must be done for the implementation and administration of a respected and credible law.
DATO SERI UTAMA MOHAMAD HAJI HASAN
UMNO Deputy President
Derma Tabung Perjuangan