Through National Security Council Bill, the prime minister can declare an area a security area and empower authorities such as the army and police to arrest anyone without a warrant. – Reuters pic, December 3, 2015. The National Security Council (NSC) bill, which critics say gives wide security powers to the prime minister, has been bulldozed and passed in the Dewan Rakyat by a voice vote tonight.
The bill, which was tabled two days ago, gives powers to the council headed by Datuk Seri Najib Razak to arrest anyone without a warrant once an area is declared a security area.
During debate at the committee stage, N. Surendran (PKR-Padang Serai) identified the flaws in the bill, calling it "poorly drafted" and urging the government to withdraw the law.
Chong Chieng Jen (DAP-Bandar Kuching) urged Sarawak MPs to defend the rights of the state, saying the authority of state governments could be overridden with the bill.
“Do not allow the erosion of Sarawak rights.
“On the advice of the Sarawak chief minister, don't sleep any more,” he added.
President of the Malaysian Bar Steven Thiru had expressed alarm over the bill, saying it was a lurch towards an authoritarian government
In a statement issued hours before the bill was passed, Thiru said the basis for the new law was unclear, while the manner in which it was being rushed through Parliament was inexcusable.
“The bill is an insidious piece of legislation that confers and concentrates vast executive powers in a newly created statutory body called the National Security Council.
“NSC’s scope of authority is broad and unchecked, as ‘national security’ is not defined in the bill.
“This provision is therefore open to abuse by NSC, as it would be able to treat almost any matter as one of national security for the purposes of the bill,” he had said.
Thiru had also warned that the law would have the power to “control” and “issue directives” to any ministry, department, office, agency, authority, commission, committee, board or council of the federal government, or of any of the state governments.
He added that with this, bodies, such as Bank Negara Malaysia, Securities Commission and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, would be made subservient to NSC. – December 3, 2015.
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