Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak today justified the introduction of the much-criticised National Security Council (NSC) Bill by reminding Malaysians that the civil liberties they crow about will not exist if militant group Islamic State (IS) takes over.

Speaking at a conference on security in Kuala Lumpur, Najib said the government makes no apologies for trying to protect the country from militant threats.

"Let me tell you this. There are no civil liberties under Daesh (IS) and there are no shields against those who are set on committing acts of terrorism.

"The best way to protect civil liberties is to ensure the safety of the nation," he said, referring to IS using the Arabic acronym.

"I make no apology for taking every step to preserve that safety and making the security of every Malaysians my first priority," he said.

The NSC Bill, which critics say could lead to dictatorship, was passed by Parliament on Dec 22, 2015.

The International Conference on Deradicalisation And Countering Violence Extremism 2016 was Najib's brainchild which he had mooted during a meeting with world leaders in October last year.

The inaugural event was also held nearly two weeks after Jakarta was rocked by a terror attack.

'Special rehabilitation module'

Reflecting on the attack, Najib said the conference will be a platform for participating countries to share and analyse their best practices from various deradicalisation programmes.

"The UN Security Council Resolution 2178 requires member countries to formulate a programme for returning foreign terrorist fighters.

"I am happy to announce that the special rehabilitation module that we have formulated in Malaysia has been translated into three languages – Arabic, English and French," he said.

At the same time, Najib also said Malaysia as Asean chairman has initiated the Regional Digital Counter-Messaging Communications Centre to synchronise efforts among member countries and beyond.

"It is vital that this centre utilises the studies that illustrate why there is nothing at all 'Islamic' about the state Daesh has set up," said Najib in urging all authorities and relevant bodies to actively counter doctrines spread by militant groups.

"It (counter message) must cut through the rhetoric, and the sadly seductive approaches of the militants. It must state very clearly why they are wrong and why true Muslims will have nothing to do with this ideology of hatred and destruction," he said.

Also present at the two-day conference were Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar and representatives of authorities from participating countries.