Press Trust of India
Kuala Lumpur, June 10: Malaysia’s controversial National Security Council act, criticised by the opposition parties and human rights groups for giving absolute powers to the Premier, has become law but did not obtain express Royal assent, unlike other Bills passed by Parliament. The NSC act became law Tuesday but did not obtain express Royal assent from king and head of state of Malaysia Yang di-Pertuan Agong unlike other bills passed by Parliament. The act, aimed at addressing immediate security threats which was passed by the Parliament in December, allows for the establishment of a council headed by the Prime Minister.
It has been criticised by the opposition and human rights groups for giving the Premier absolute powers. Deputy Home minister Nur Jazlan Mohammed said the NSC bill will be used to manage “specific and narrow” security threats and not target individuals, unlike previous legislation. “It is not meant to target individuals because of its wide powers to counter the armed communist threat. Those are what we call ‘business as usual’ acts but the NSC Bill is meant to handle the pressing and immediate threats,” Jazlan told the Star daily, citing a case in which a man was caught for planning to plant bombs in Kuala Lumpur months ago. “This Bill is more for handling trans-border and terror threats that require quick response, especially along our long border areas. It is not to quell political dissent. I hope people will not confuse the two,” Jazlan said.
