YOURSAY | ‘I had to blink to ensure that what I read was indeed what was written.’

Umno senator says NSC Bill may be unconstitutional

YM Lee: Malaysian Senators Council (MSM) president Abdul Rahim Abdul Rahman has upheld the honour of the Upper House.

Yes, he must support the party that nominated him to the Senate. In making those suggestions, he has both displayed his loyalty to his party and the House. Well done, Tan Sri.

Kamel: I had to clear my eyes and blink a few times to ensure that what I read was indeed what was written. Sorry, I have been conditioned by the Umno stereotypes.

Mushiro: Once the powers-that-be have decided what they want, the Parliament and worse, the Senate, will endorse it.

This has been going on for donkey’s years and it is a surprise that Abdul Rahim suddenly has a different dream.

RCZ: We will see how long the senator stands his ground.

If the senator changes his views, it will either be because of money or arm-twisting with some skeleton in the closet, or sheer intimidation. The rakyat will not be surprised if that happens.

Hcleong: Abdul Rahim, you have earned the rakyat's respect. Standing up boldly to defend the common folk is truly rare in Umno. Yes, don’t be a rubber stamp, especially since you are the MSM president.

We always think the Upper House is just a mere bus stop, but with your words of wisdom, I hope it will wake up those who have a selfish agenda to bulldoze the National Security Council (NSC) Bill through.

Even in the Lower House, no Umno member dared to speak up.

Nil: The NSC Bill, if passed as a law, will give unimaginably vast powers to a single person.

What do we have to protect the rakyat and the country from that person? What sort of checks and balances will we have ‘built-in’ in that law? The constitution seems powerless.

Beeep!: Thank you, Abdul Rahim. Do not rubber stamp it; insist on a delay and debate the bill.

Patriot1: All Malaysians should always have an avenue to seek legal redress. This is what the ‘rule of law’ is all about. A single person should never be the judge, jury and executioner.

Johannes: Make this man the boss of Malaysia. He is outstanding example for all the Umno men.

'Najib will not become dictator with NSC Bill'

Jesse: National security laws in various forms have been abused in the past, and will continue to be so abused in the future by this government.

Dictator or not, it is seriously undermining whatever little democracy left in the country. This is just another nail in the coffin.

GE14Now!: It is not a question of whether he would or would not be a dictator. But the fact remains that he wants to have the instruments that would allow him to become a dictator if he so wishes.

A leader who truly has the good of the nation and the people in his heart would not even broach the matter of having such a law on stand-by.

This is destructive leadership in the making - one that has shown that he will not allow anything to take him away from his position.

To say that the PM would only declare a clampdown on the advice of the NSC is to skirt around the problem.

What he would do is just decree it privately and the NSC will then go through the motions and 'advise' him accordingly.

Iiiizzzziiii: I have never seen such reasoning. Take 1MDB for example, the majority of ministers keep silent on the issue, with some even resorting to defend the PM.

Those who have gone against it have been removed. This has nothing to do with the PM?

Thana55: Minister in the PM’s Department Shahidan Kassim, we believe you, like we believe Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe.

N1: Without the NSC, the PM is already refusing to abide by the normal procedure, which requires anyone who is being investigated to go on leave. What more with NSC Bill, Malaysians can kiss goodbye to democracy.

Pahatian: No doubt, the PM acts only on the advice of the National Security Council. But who are those in the NSC? The attorney-general, the inspector-general of police and the home minister, who are all beholden to him.

So what nonsense are you talking, Shahidan?

SusahKes: Well, if you say so, then of course we believe you. Now excuse me while I go keep a lookout on my chimney for Santa Claus to show up.

The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now.

These comments are compiled to reflect the views of Malaysiakini subscribers on matters of public interest. Malaysiakini does not intend to represent these views as fact.