UCL Laws welcomes Malaysian government for experts’ roundtable on institutional reforms

UCL Faculty of Laws, in collaboration with Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), hosted ‘Understanding the UK Approach: A Hybrid Experts’ Roundtable Discussion on the Separation of Functions of the Attorney General and Public Prosecutor’ on 10 March 2025. This event brought together legal experts to examine the division of responsibilities between the Attorney General and Public Prosecutor in Malaysia, drawing on comparative insights from international best practices, particularly in the UK.

The roundtable discussion will play a key role in shaping an ongoing empirical study by the Malaysian Government, led by the Honourable Minister, Dato’ Sri Azalina Othman Said, between the Legal Affairs Division of Malaysia’s Prime Minister’s Department, Parliament of Malaysia and Attorney General’s Chambers. The study seeks to facilitate an exchange of perspectives on the organisational and administrative structures of the Attorney General and Public Prosecutor in Malaysia, drawing on global best practices from the UK, Australia and Canada. The insights gathered will inform recommendations for an optimal model delineating their respective roles within Malaysia’s legal framework.

The Malaysian delegation, led by Dato’ Sri Azalina Othman Said, included representatives from the Parliament of Malaysia, the Attorney General's Chambers, the Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister’s Department, and the Malaysian Bar Council.

UCL Laws’ Global Centre for Democratic Constitutionalism (GCDC) facilitated the discussion on the independent prosecutorial system in England and Wales. The event was chaired by Professor Jeff King (UCL) and featured insights from the Rt Hon Victoria Prentis KC, Barrister and former Attorney General (2022-2024), who previously spent nearly two decades at the Treasury Solicitor’s Office, and Sir Max Hill KCB KC, Barrister and Former Director of Public Prosecutions for England and Wales (2018-2023). Expert contributions also came from Professor King, Professor Erin Delaney, UCL Leverhulme Professor of Comparative and Constitutional Law, and Professor David Ormerod, Chair in Criminal Law at UCL Laws.

The roundtable was praised for fostering meaningful dialogue between experts from both jurisdictions. Attendees highlighted the importance of such cross-border discussions in strengthening and upholding democratic values.

Professor Jeff King from UCL Laws’ Global Centre for Democratic Constitutionalism said, “We were delighted to facilitate this high-level discussion, drawing on our range of expertise on the rule of law, intra-governmental regulation, and law reform. The discussion was sharply focused following advanced preparation on both sides. It clearly provided useful evidence for the Malaysian Government’s plan for a white paper on the topic.”

The Hon. Dato’ Sri Azalina Othman Said,  Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and institutional Reform) said, “The Experts' Roundtable Discussion organised jointly by the Legal Affairs Division, Prime Minister’s Department, University College London (UCL) and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) serves as a very crucial platform, facilitating in-depth exploration of the UK's position and mechanisms regarding both the roles of Attorney General and Public Prosecutor. This collaborative dialogue has indeed provided invaluable insights for Malaysia in conducting the empirical study on the separation of the roles of the Attorney-General and Public Prosecutor.

The discussion has indeed facilitated a very comprehensive exchange where UK experts shared their knowledge and experience which supports Malaysia's ongoing research and potential legal reforms. This includes elucidating the distinct differences between the appointment and operational functions of the Public Prosecutor in Malaysia, and the independent prosecution services in the UK, such as the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the Serious Fraud Office (SFO).”

Professor Eloise Scotford, Dean of UCL Laws said, “It was a privilege to host this esteemed delegation led by the Malaysian Prime Minister’s department at UCL Laws for a meaningful expert exchange on significant features of constitutional government. An important aspect of our role as a top global law school is bringing together experienced and expert lawyers – from government, legal practice and academia – to build better global knowledge about fundamental structures for the rule of law.”

The Global Centre for Democratic Constitutionalism is a research centre at UCL Laws dedicated to advancing knowledge on democratic governance, the rule of law, and constitutional resilience.