Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Shahidan Kassim has rubbished the opposition's attempts to defend the royal institution as late heroics.

This is in regard to the gazetting of the National Security Council Bill without royal assent, which the opposition claimed disrespected the monarchy.

"Who doesn't respect the Malay rulers, us or them?

"Umno fought for independence and we upheld the monarchy.

"They only came later trying to be heroes," he told a press conference in Sungai Besar today.

On Feb 17, the Conference of Rulers asked that the NSC Bill, which would give the National Security Council headed by the prime minister emergency-like powers, be refined.

However, according to the national gazette, the NSC Bill was automatically assented the following day on Feb 18 under Article 66(4A) of the Federal Constitution.

The provision granted automatic assent to any legislation if the Yang di-Pertuan Agong does not provide his assent within 30 days from when the legislation is presented to him.

The bill was gazetted into law last week, although an enforcement date has yet to be set.

Shahidan said the Bill was gazetted in accordance with the law, and not getting royal assent was not an issue.

"If it broke any laws in regard to the royals I would fight it myself," he stressed.