The Attorney-General’s Chambers is led by the Attorney-General, also known as the A-G. The A-G is the highest ranking public prosecutor. He is appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the advice of the Prime Minister.

The Attorney-General has certain exclusive powers due to his position. He can discontinue ongoing legal proceedings for an offence. He also has the power to determine the court in which an offence will be judged under. Most importantly, he is the main legal adviser to the government. There are currently two Solicitor Generals in the Attorney-General’s Chambers and these are new posts that were only created in 2007.

The A-G is assisted by the Solicitor General who acts with the power of the Attorney-General in the absence of the A-G. The Solicitor General is also responsible for civil matters, interviews, intakes, transfers, postings and promotions of officers and any other duties directed by the Attorney-General.

Then there are the Deputy Public Prosecutors who are also called DPPs. The Attorney-General’s Chambers is responsible for advising the government on legal matters. Within the chambers are many divisions that are separated according to functions. There is the research division, drafting division, international affairs division, advisory division, management division, law reform division, civil division and prosecution division.

Each division serves a different job function and is led by a Head of Division and the Deputy Heads, sometimes also called Deputy Directors. Providing advice spans all areas of governance. Immigration, customs, securities and the police department are just some of the areas that require extensive legal advice. The advice largely encompasses providing prosecution instructions to all enforcement agencies for criminal cases. For international affairs, the A-G’s Chambers advises on matters related to international law and national policies.

The Attorney-General’s Chambers is also responsible for drafting all legislation for the federal government. It revises laws and identifies areas that need reforms. This is not just for national level laws but also the drafting of various legal matters in support of Malaysia’s international treaties.

The advisory division helps in contract negotiation and contract drafting in large projects such as company privatisations and ICT development projects. Advising isn’t the only thing. This division also provides training sessions for government and non-government agencies.

More commonly, the A-G’s Chambers prosecutes on behalf of the government. In the United States (as you might have seen on TV), people can sue each other for anything but in Malaysia it’s as common, the government prosecutes in criminal and civil cases so the job scope is wide and varied. Some of the cases include high profile, sensitive cases and some with public interest. Besides prosecuting, they also defend the government in civil suits.

Within the civil division there are many subdivisions designed to tackle the various aspects such as arbitration and constitutional matters.

The management division takes care of more legal administrative work. They act as secretariat to various committees within the A-G’s Chambers such as the financial and account management committee, human resource development panel, promotional board and the training committee.

Working in the Attorney-General’s Chambers means helping the government maintain law and order so it is extremely gratifying in itself. To join, you do not need special qualifications. It is simply a different pathway for the law graduate who chooses not to go into the private sector. A lawyer can simply apply for a position in the A-Gs Chambers and work their way up from Junior Deputy Public Prosecutor to Deputy Public Prosecutor and then to Head of Division.

DID YOU KNOW?
Here are a few more obsolete laws that are still in existence:
Women in Ohio, USA are prohibited from wearing patent leather shoes because a man might see her undergarments reflected in them.

The head of a dead whale that is found on the British coast is the property of the King. The tail, however, is the property of the Queen. This is so she can use the bones for her corset.