The Malaysian government agreed on 10 September to split the office of Attorney General into two: an Attorney General to advise the government on legal matters and a Public Prosecutor to oversee criminal prosecutions. The Malaysian Bar Association called the decision a ‘landmark reform’ which will reduce the risk for conflicts of interest and executive interference in criminal prosecutions. The Cabinet has set out a plan to enshrine the division in law, which will require amending Articles 42, 145 and 183 of the Constitution, introducing a new Act to regulate remuneration, and the development of a ‘task force’ to manage the logistical and organizational aspects of the separation. 

The Gig Workers Bill passed into law on 9 September, marking the first time a legal framework defines and recognizes ‘gig workers’ as workers. Employers are now required to provide social security contributions on their behalf, establish a dispute resolution mechanism for mediating conflicts between employers and employees, and more. An estimated 1.2 million Malaysians are employed in some form of gig work, which the law defines as work for online platforms and specific occupations performed under a service agreement, such as driving for ride-hailing services, care services, hairdressing and more. The bill’s passage was celebrated by Malaysian unions and the Human Rights Commission, although the latter called for stronger enforcement mechanisms, better access to legal aid and explicit legal recognition of gig workers’ right to associate and unionize. 

Sources: Malay Mail, Human Rights Commission of Malaysia, UNI Global Union, Parliament of Malaysia

The Parliamentary Services Act received royal assent on 14 July, granting the Parliament administrative independence from the government and thus the power to manage its own staffing, budget, governance and internal policies. The policies are expected to go into effect in June 2026, as the Parliament plans how to take over responsibilities that have since 1992 been the purview of the prime minister’s office. Constitutional law experts have praised the efforts to strengthen the separation of powers, but argued that further improvements were needed to ensure parliament could act as a robust check on the executive. These include stronger job security for parliamentary staff and guarantees of nonpartisan appointments to the Parliamentary Services Council that will oversee parliamentary administration. 

Sources: Malay Mail (1), The Star, Malay Mail (2), Free Malaysia Today, Parliament of Malaysia

In a context of increasing intimidation of the media, the Putrajaya magistrates' court charged journalist B. Nantha Kumar with receiving a bribe on 14 March in what press freedom advocates allege is retaliation for his reporting. In recent months, there have been instances of questioning of reporters over a story on police leadership and the seizure of an editor’s computer for reporting on a minister’s public statements in January. Kumar published a story on 22 February alleging a former immigration official was the leader of a migrant trafficking ring and on 28 February was arrested in a sting operation. Prosecutors allege he accepted a bribe to delete articles about the trafficking operation. In an account published by his employer Malaysiakini, Kumar denies the charges and details how he agreed to meet with men he believed to be members of the ring to discuss a bribe at the urging of immigration officials, and that he thought he was aiding an investigation. Malaysiakini is a respected media outlet which has been long subject to state harassment.

Sources: Committee to Protect Journalists, Free Malaysia Today

 Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced on 13 February plans to pass legislation removing Section 11 of the Peaceful Assembly Act, and Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the government would cease enforcing it immediately. Section 11 requires the organizers of protests to obtain permission from property owners as a condition of holding any public gathering. Section 11 had frequently been criticized as unnecessarily complex and acting as a convenient tool for denying permission for protests critical of the government, and civil society groups welcomed the announcement. The law itself will be amended at the next meeting of parliament in June 2025. 

Sources: The Diplomat, Daily Star