THE National Security Council Act 2016 is still under review, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Liew Vui Keong, adding that any decision to repeal it would only be done after it was completed.

“The abolition (process) of this act is in the committee process. I am confident the promises in the manifesto will be fulfilled by the government.

“Give us some time to examine the situation, especially the NSC. When it comes to security issues of the country, we will examine all factors to ensure our country’s safety is not compromised,” he told the Dewan Rakyat during a wrap-up of the debates.

DAP’s Ramkarpal Singh had asked if the act would be abolished in line with Pakatan Harapan’s election manifesto promise to repeal the law as it gives the prime minister too much power. 

Liew said that the law had never actually been used. 

“In these two years, this act has not been implemented. This is merely a concern but this act has not been used.

“(The PM) needs to get approval from members, which includes the deputy prime minister, defence and home minister. So, in this matter, it is not just the prime minister who will make the decision,” Liew added. 

The act was passed by the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara in late 2015 under claims by the opposition and civil society groups that it was “bulldozed” through despite concerns about its ambiguity and sweeping powers for the prime minister to declare a state of emergency in a “designated security area”.

It also grants powers to the authorities to make arrests and conduct forced evacuations, as well as use any force they find necessary. It also exempts members of the council and those operating under it from legal liability and prosecution.

The previous Barisan Nasional government said the law was meant to tackle terrorism but critics feared that could be abused for political reasons. – August 6, 2018.