Despite the government's assurance that the newly-passed National Security Council (NSC) Bill will not be abused, a coalition of civil society groups said today Malaysia will move towards becoming a dictatorship once it is gazetted as law.

Think tank Institut Rakyat executive director Yin Shao Loong said the NSC Bill grants the prime minister with similar powers as accorded to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, under Article 150 of the Federal Constitution, to declare a state of emergency, even though the word is not used in the bill.