The government might defer several of the 10 accompanying amendment bills tabled along with the Prevention of Crime Act (1959) amendment bill.

The PCA amendments was tabled for second reading today, with the government seemingly prioritising the bill over the other accompanying amendments, with the Home Ministry saying it would consider changes to the proposed PCA amendments during the committee stage.

NONEPKR deputy president Azmin Ali confirmed with Malaysiakini that he had met both Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia to expressed his reservations about having just three days allocated to debate the 11 bills (including the PCA).

He said that the speaker himself had expressed similar reservations and had asked Azmin to raise the matter with the Home Ministry.

In the Dewan Rakyat today, several opposition MPs, led by Azmin, demanded that the government state which bills will be withdrawn and what are the bills will be up for debate.

"I can see, from the gesture of the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs (Shahidan Kassim), that some bills will be withdrawn. We just want to know which of the bills," Azmin demanded.

Decision tomorrow?

However, deputy speaker Ronald Kiandee said that it is the government's prerogative to withdraw certain bills and that the speaker will be inform the House of any withdrawals.

NONERonald (left) also refused to make any ruling on the debate time allocated to MPs, saying that the debate period will be modified according to circumstances as proceedings unfold.

Zahid and Shahidan have both not confirmed the possibility of withdrawing any bills.

Among the other prominent laws that were proposed for amendments include the Penal Code, the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act, and the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC).

The issue of consultation has become a contentious point as the Bar Council revealed that they were not asked for feedback before the bill was tabled for first reading last Wednesday.

However, any decision on accompanying bills might be deferred until late Wednesday or on Thursday, depending on any amendments made to the PCA amendment bill during the committee stage, and taking into account the time constraints.

If the government defers the accompanying amendment bills while keeping the PCA, it could be seen as a compromise, though it would remain to be seen whether such a move would satisfy civil society and opposition MPs who are against detention without trial.

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