PARLIAMENT The controversial Criminal Procedure Code (Amendment) Bill 2015 was bulldozed through the Dewan Rakyat today amidst concerns that the public prosecutor has been given excessive power.

The bill was passed through voice votes in the House, with six amendments.

Besides the wide range of power given to the public prosecutor, the opposition lawmakers claimed that certain discretionery power will be taken away from the court.

Following the amendments, the court shall accept the evidence provided by expert witnesses.

They also worry that the prosecutor may have advantage over the accused when the amended bill allows the witness to testify in camera in the absent of the accused and the defence counsel.

In the three-day debate, both Pakatan Harapan and PAS wanted the CPC Bill to be retracted and improved.

Lawmakers from both sides of the political divide felt it may be opened to abuse with excessive power granted to the authorities.

The CPC Bill and Evidence Bill were part of the 11 new and amended bills that were tabled in Parliament in 2013 to fight organised crimes.

However, a number of other new and amended bills were passed in that session, including the Prevention of Crime (Amendment and Extension) Act 2013, Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 and the Penal Code.

The House also later passed the Evidence (Amendment) Bill 2015 today.