DR M: NSC ACT TO BE REVIEWED
Law affects king’s special right to declare state of emergency, says prime minister
THE National Security Council Act 2016 will be re-examined as it allows the prime minister to declare “security zones”. Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the government would look into all aspects before amending the act.
He said the previous government passed the act due to misinterpretation of amendments to the Constitution made during his first tenure as prime minister.
“We found that the NSC Act clearly has an impact on the power of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to declare an emergency, whereby that power (of the ruler) no longer has meaning.
“The declaration of an emergency is a special power given to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong as it has serious implications.”
Dr Mahathir was answering a question by Datuk Dr Ismail Mohamed Said (Barisan NasionalKuala Krau) during the questionand-answer session at the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
Ismail wanted an explanation on the act, which became law automatically without assent from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
The act was passed by Dewan Rakyat in December 2015 and took effect on Aug 1, 2016.
It allows the prime minister to establish security areas in which security forces can check any individual, vehicle or building without a warrant.
The law does away with formal investigations into deaths caused during operations by the police or armed forces in security areas.
Dr Mahathir said the act empowered the government to arrest anyone without trial.
“The government is re-examining this matter to see if there is a need to do so (amend the act).”