The proposal to make the Attorney-General (AG) answerable to the public and Parliament gained more support today, with the Bar Council giving it the thumbs-up.

"We support so far as it would enhance the accountability in the sense that what the AG does, he would be accountable to Parliament," Council president Yeo Yang Poh told reporters when met in Kuala Lumpur.

He described the proposal, mooted by Backbenchers Club chair Shahrir Samad, as a 'good idea' and added that promoting accountability was important 'at this stage in national development'.

"You will have a different picture because the AG (then) is answerable to Parliament - which is absent at the moment - that added thing is good," he stressed.

Yesterday, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) also stamped its approval. According to the opposition party, the AG is the 'most powerful' person in Malaysia 'right now' but there is no check and balance on him.

AG can order investigation

On Wednesday, Shahrir said it was time to revert to the practice where the AG should have ministerial rank to ensure that he/she is more responsive to issues of public interest.

He said this in reference to AG Abdul Gani Patail's recent statement that he could only act on the Metramac scandal once police have finished investigating.

Commenting on this, Yeo said the AG does have the discretion to order the police to investigate in appropriate cases and report back to him.

However, he said since the police were reportedly investigating the case, they should be given the necessary time to do so.

Police investigating

According to a report in the Chinese-language Sin Chew Daily, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan said the case was being investigated by the commercial crime department.

Since investigations were in the initial stages, he asked the public to be patient.

Investigations were kick-started following a report lodged on the matter by DAP parliamentarian Tan Kok Wai on Jan 16.

The scandal came to light in a recent Court of Appeal judgment which accused business tycoon Halim Saad and his ex-partner Anuar Othman of siphoning RM32 million from toll concessionaire Metramac Corporation Sdn Bhd.

Also implicated was former finance minister Daim Zainuddin. Both Halim and Daim have since denied any wrongdoing.