The National Security Council Bill 2015 (NSC Bill) will not give the prime minister, who will chair the council once the law is passed, dictator-like powers, argued Minister in the Prime Minister Department Shahidan Kassim.

"The powers given under the bill will not make the prime minister a dictator, as the power to declare a state of emergency still remain with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong," Shahidan said when tabling the bill for its second reading in the Dewan Negara today.