The government has lost some trust from the people with the passing of the powerful National Security Council Bill 2015 in Parliament, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Paul Low admitted today.

"I think the issue is a matter of trust. This new law will give power to the National Security Council (NSC)," Low said on the sidelines of an event marking Human Rights Day 2015.

The NSC Bill once gazetted into law will deal with incursions, such as the Lahad Datu intrusion by Sulu militants, as well as terrorism attacks such as those that took place in Paris and Belgium, he said.

The government will need to declare a place a security zone and impose curfew to fight non-state-actor types of enemies, as well as the people supporting the terrorists, Low said.

"This is to provide for readiness of the power given to the NSC," he said.

"Any government given such power must earn the trust of the people, this includes the proper observation of the laws and that no selective (prosecution) is done.

"I think this trust deficit, if I can say, needs to be reduced. That is something for the leadership in the government to consider," Low said.

The minister, who oversees corruption and human rights, said this when asked to comment on the controversial NSC Bill, especially since the government has breached its promise not to impose the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 on political grounds.

To gain trust, he said, such law should not be used to prohibit a Bersih rally.

"No, I don't think so. I personally don't believe it is so. If you want to gain trust, don't use it that way," he said.

Lawyer Shahredzan Johan had expressed his concern that the bill may be used to stop rallies like Bersih.

Low said the bill will not be used against politicians and dissidents, but is only meant to combat terrorists.

"I don't think it will be applied to them unless some (politicians and dissidents) are in cohoots with the terrorists," he said.

Meanwhile, he refused to reveal if any minister had rejected the NSC bill when it was presented to the cabinet.

"I cannot say that; if that is a decision of the cabinet, then there will be collective responsibility," he said curtly.

DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang had questioned whether all the 37 cabinet ministers had agreed on the controversial bill.

The NSC bill that was passed in Parliament last week allows the prime minister, acting in his capacity as NSC chief, to declare an area a security area.

It also gives security personnel extensive powers to enforce the law and they are protected from any legal proceedings resulting from their actions.

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