04/03/2026

WEDNESDAY | MAR 4, 2026

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AG-PP separation Bill referred to bipartisan committee

Ű BY HARITH KAMAL newsdesk@thesundaily.com

THE government has reaffirmed that Malaysia will not join the Board of Peace for Palestine for now, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan. In a written reply to the Dewan Negara, he said Malaysia supports global efforts aimed at achieving lasting peace in Palestine, but maintained that such peace must be grounded in international law and address the fundamental causes of the conflict. “In this regard, Malaysia remains consistent in its position not to participate in the Board of Peace at this juncture, citing the lack of clarity on whether the initiative will directly and promptly address the root causes of the Israel-Palestine conflict. “This includes Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian territory and the continued violations of international law by the Zionist regime,” he said in response to Senator Datuk Shamsuddin Abd Ghaffar who asked about Malaysia’s position and involvement in the initiative. Mohamad said Malaysia respects the sovereign decisions of fellow Asean member states, including Indonesia, PETALING much anticipated move to separate the roles of the attorney-general (AG) and public prosecutor (PP) hit an unexpected snag yesterday as Parliament deferred the proposed Constitution (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2026. The legislation will now be scrutinised by a newly formed bipartisan special select committee before any further debate. The Dewan Rakyat passed a motion to refer the Bill to the committee. The House was subsequently adjourned and will reconvene for its next meeting in June. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said the committee will examine the Bill, including mechanisms for the accountability of the public prosecutor and propose any necessary amendments. “It will prepare a report with recommended amendments to the Bill within three months, JAYA: The although this period can be extended if necessary,” she added. The committee will comprise government and opposition members, with Azalina as chairman. Government representatives SERVICE disruptions on the Kelana Jaya LRT line, which have inconvenienced commuters, are caused by some train sets being old and in need of replacement. Transport Minister Anthony Loke said new train sets have already been purchased, but the delivery and replacement process could take up to two years. “I want to assure that the Transport Ministry will always prioritise the comfort and convenience of users,” he told the Dewan Rakyat. He was responding to a supplementary question from Kapar MP Dr Halimah Ali on the frequent disruptions along the Kelana Jaya line and whether they were linked to insufficient allocations

candidates subjected to a public confirmation hearing and a Dewan Rakyat vote before being presented for royal assent. They are also pushing for Parliament to have the power to initiate a motion to remove a sitting PP for misconduct, requiring a two-thirds majority before a tribunal can convene and to cut the PP’s proposed seven year term to four years to prevent the accumulation of excessive authority. Takiyuddin had also previously warned that shifting absolute prosecutorial powers from the AG to the PP without strong accountability safeguards could leave the office virtually unanswerable to Parliament or any other oversight body. The Bill would need at least two thirds majority to pass. On Monday the House rejected another constitutional amendment that sought to cap the prime minister’s tenure at 10 years after it failed to secure the majority.

to make the law good and defensible.” The constitutional amendment aims to grant the PP full authority to prosecute cases while leaving the AG as the government’s legal adviser. Affecting multiple articles of the Federal Constitution, it would establish the PP as a fully independent office, with implementation expected in phases. First read last week, the Bill has drawn mixed reactions. Civil society groups and opposition MPs have warned that certain provisions could concentrate too much power in the hands of a few. Ten MPs aligned with former PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli have said they may withhold support unless Parliament is granted formal oversight of the new office. The MPs demanded that the Bill first be reviewed by a special select committee on Human Rights, Elections and Institutional Reform, with the PP

o Special select committee to examine accountability mechanisms, oversight structure and prosecutorial independence : Azalina

minister and Kota Bharu MP Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, Beluran MP Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee and Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman. The panel may also invite other stakeholders, including other MPs, legal and constitutional experts, NGOs and civil society representatives. Earlier, Perikatan Nasional chief whip Takiyuddin said the opposition had already submitted its proposed representatives. While the opposition does not oppose the bill, it has suggested improvements to make the law stronger and less vulnerable to legal challenges. “These improvements are necessary

include Parit Sulong MP Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad, who also serves as Plantation and Commodities minister and Tawau MP Datuk Lo Su Fui who is Federal Territories deputy minister. Other government

members are Selayang MP William Leong Jee Keen, Bangi MP Syahredzan Johan, Alor Gajah MP Adly Zahari, Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh and Lubok Antu MP

AT THE DEWAN RAKYAT

Roy Angau Gingkoi. Opposition members include Larut MP and opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, former Law

M’sia backs global peace efforts but stays out of Board of Peace initiative

Cambodia and Vietnam, which have joined the Board of Peace based on their respective national considerations. He emphasised that sustainable peace can only be realised through an inclusive and comprehensive settlement, including the protection of the Palestinian people’s inalienable rights to statehood, sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the right of return. “While acknowledging that many countries have pledged significant commitments towards the development and reconstruction of Gaza, the government expressed concern that the initiative does not sufficiently focus on securing an end to Israel’s illegal occupation or advancing the two-state solution.” Mohamad said Malaysia also underscored that peacebuilding efforts should be pursued through inclusive and transparent multilateral mechanisms based on international consensus, particularly through recognised platforms such as the United Nations and established regional cooperation frameworks. – By Qirana Nabilla Mohd Rashidi for maintenance. Last week, the Kelana Jaya line experienced a series of disruptions almost every day, particularly during peak hours, causing frustration among commuters. Loke dismissed claims of any cuts to train maintenance, stressing that despite financial constraints, maintenance standards have never been compromised. “Even though we face various financial constraints there has been no reduction in maintenance spending. For upcoming projects we will look at the overall cost scope. Not only to finance the purchase of new train sets but also to consider aspects of long-term service agreements.”– By Harith Kamal

The Finance Ministry said the increase in the number of BNPL users was in line with the expansion of BNPL transactions which reached 243 million valued at RM21.3 billion last year. – AMIRUL SYAFIQ/THESUN ‘Buy now pay later schemes manageable’

Ageing trains behind LRT Kelana Jaya line disruptions: Loke

Ű BY QIRANA NABILLA MOHD RASHIDI newsdesk@thesundaily.com

consumer protection and promote responsible lending. It emphasised that BNPL providers must comply with strict conduct standards, including doing creditworthiness and affordability assessments before approving financing. “They are also required to ensure that terms, charges and fees are transparent, reasonable and not burdensome to consumers. The Consumer Credit Commission will be empowered to monitor compliance, carry out investigations, take enforcement action and impose penalties on non-compliant parties.” The ministry also said the government is intensifying financial literacy initiatives, particularly among youths and lower income groups, to improve awareness of debt management and the importance of prudent financial decision-making.

Malaysia’s total household debt,” the ministry said in a written reply in the Dewan Rakyat in response to a question from Ku Abd Rahman Ku Ismail (PN– Kubang Pasu) regarding the increase in BNPL account holders and the government’s measures to monitor them. The ministry added that the overdue BNPL financing amounted to RM160.2 million or 3.3% of total BNPL loans and described it as manageable and reflective of a contained debt burden among users. “Nevertheless, the government continues to monitor developments in the BNPL sector closely to ensure it does not evolve into an uncontrolled debt burden, particularly with the increasing usage among youths.” The ministry highlighted that the government has gazetted the Consumer Credit Act 2025 (Act 873), which will come into force this year, to strengthen

THE government has assured that risks linked to the rapid growth of Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) schemes remain under control, despite the number of users rising sharply from 2.6 million in 2023 to 7.5 million as at end 2025. The Finance Ministry said the increase in users was in line with the expansion of BNPL transactions, which reached 243 million valued at RM21.3 billion as of December last year. “The growth was also driven by the rise in BNPL service providers, from 10 in 2023 to 16 in 2025, broadening access and options for consumers. “As at December last year total outstanding BNPL financing stood at RM4.9 billion, accounting for 0.3% of