Law minister: Government considering review of Official Secrets Act, ready to table the AG-PP bill in Parliament

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 18 — The government may consider reviewing the Official Secrets Act (OSA) as part of a slew of reforms that it is currently pushing, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said today.

Azalina said the law, dating back to 1972, would need to be updated so that it stays relevant with time. However, she ruled out the possibility of abolishing it completely.

“We have to do a proper study because it (the OSA) has to change with time,” she told reporters briefly, when asked what aspects of the legislation requires a review. 

Separately, Azalina also confirmed that the  constitutional amendment bill to separate the offices of the Public Prosecutor and the Attorney-General is ready to be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat. 

However, she said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim would have to determine when the bill should be brought to the Dewan Rakyat.

“He (Anwar) has to get a (two-thirds majority) vote from the floor before tabling it.

“So, if he decides to put for a vote in the next Parliament session, then it would be (tabled in) the next session. But, it’s all ready,” she said.

Azalina said she also expects the bill to secure a two-thirds majority when it is put to vote since a multi-party Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSPC) has reviewed and approved the draft bill.

Initially slated for debate during the March sitting, the constitutional amendment bill was referred to the PSPC for further scrutiny after several government backbenchers opposed the draft.