The Dewan Negara’s Standing Order 46 should also have a provision where Malaysians can know how every senator voted on the National Security Council (NSC) Bill, says DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang.

“Let’s not have a parliamentary charade where the BN senators are allowed to criticise the NSC Bill, but are forced to vote for it at the end of the debate,” Lim said in a statement today.

His suggestion comes after several BN senators expressed their concern in relation to the NSC Bill, with some saying that the bill goes against the Federal Constitution.

Malaysian Senators Council (MSM) president Abdul Rahim Abdul Rahman said the bill may be unconstitutional and contravene other laws in terms of the extensive powers given to the director appointed for a security area.

“Despite potent arguments against the NSC Bill, will Abdul Rahim vote for the bill at the second and third readings when the time for voting in Dewan Negara comes later today?” Lim, the MP for Gelang Patah, asked.

“The same question applies to all BN senators who have suddenly found the voice to articulate the concerns of the ordinary Malaysians and to be true to their own conscience as well.”

Apart from Abdul Rahim ( photo ), Senator K Bathmavatahi proposed that the NSC Bill be referred to a joint select committee of both Houses of Parliament, while another BN senator disagreed that the prime minister should be given the powers to declare a “security area” under the bill.

“Clearly, the Najib government has relented a little as a result of the bad national and international publicity - to allow for a longer debate and for BN senators to speak up and criticise the NSC Bill - so long as they eventually vote for its passage in the Dewan Negara,” Lim said.

If it was indeed true that Najib had given BN senators the “green light” to criticise the bill, provided they ultimately voted in support of the bill, the debate on the bill was therefore a mere parliamentary charade, he said.

'Refer bill to select committee'

“BN senators who have won new respect from Malaysians for daring to speak up to oppose the weaknesses, flaws and dangers of the NSC Bill will forfeit their new-found public respect and admiration in a matter of 24 hours if they are not prepared to act on their conviction and vote to refer the bill back for further study and amendment.”

The Dewan Negara, he added, should invoke Standing Order 74 to refer the NSC Bill to a select committee for a further study.

“If the Najib government wants to force a vote, then senators should not just speak up but must be prepared to stand up be counted,” stressed Lim.

It is expected that the Dewan Negara will seek to pass the bill today - the last day of its session.

The controversial bill, slammed for giving the prime minister absolute power to receive intelligence and address security issues, was passed in the Dewan Rakyat on Dec 3.

The bill allows the prime minister, acting in his capacity as NSC chief, to declare an area a security area for up to six months.

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