Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) of Malaysia

The Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC, Malay: Jabatan Peguam Negara) of Malaysia is located in Putrajaya and established pursuant to Article 145 of the Federal Constitution of Malaysia. Its highest officer is the Attorney General, who is appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the advice of the Prime Minister. Following the Commonwealth legal system, the Attorney General serves dual roles as the principal legal adviser to the Federal Government and the Public Prosecutor for the whole nation, holding discretionary power over criminal prosecutions. The AGC provides legal advice to the federal authorities, drafts and reviews bills and subsidiary legislation, represents the Federal Government in civil and administrative proceedings, and directs all Deputy Public Prosecutors nationwide in vetting criminal cases, instituting prosecutions and conducting court hearings. Branch offices are set up in Sabah and Sarawak to handle local civil legal matters, while criminal prosecution powers in these two states remain under the federal AGC. The Chambers does not conduct criminal investigations, and cases before Syariah Courts fall outside its jurisdiction. Malaysia is currently pursuing legislative amendments to separate the Attorney General’s advisory role from its prosecution function.