Although the National Security Council (NSC) Act 2016 will be coming to force next Monday, some members of the public are still uninformed about the law that will give emergency powers to the council headed by the prime minister.

"I don't know (about the act). Because I feel it has nothing to do with me," Kamal Afiq Mustapa Kamal, 28, told Malaysiakini in a street survey.

However, others met who have heard of the Act said they didn't quite agree with such laws being enforced.

Zulfazli Mansor, 31, said he didn't know much about the new law saying there had been little publicity.

However, he said, such laws had both good and bad aspects.

"I don't know much about this act, because I feel not many media have written about it.

"But I feel there is good and bad to this Act. It depends on the issue, for example, if it is a question of terrorism.

"In that case, it is okay to use the law. But in other cases, I am not very sure," he said when asked.

"Because I too would be worried if suddenly I am arrested without giving any chance to defend myself in court.

"So I am 50-50 about this Act, there is good, and bad," said Zulfazli.

Living costs more worrying

Ismadi Alias, 45, said he wasn't very clear about the law but said he was more concerned about rising costs of living.

"I just know there is such a law. But more than that and how it is to be implemented, I am not very clear.

"It's hard to say if I am worried about it, because we don't know what its functions are.

"I am more concerned about the rising costs of living today, that has become an increasing burden to the rakyat," he said.

Mohamad Khir Mohamad, 58, who works in the private sector also said a more detailed explanation of the law is needed.

"I too have only just head about this matter," he said, therefore it was hard to comment.

Fears of another ISA

Sidi Yusof, 27, said he knows only a little about the law but worries it would be abused.

"I only know a little, it's like the Internal Security Act (ISA). We are worried with the NSC Act because, for me, it can be abused because there is no judicial process.

"I feel it should be studied further before being implemented," he said.

Retiree Abdullah Bakar, 67, however felt the Act was needed to ensure national security.

"I feel it is okay, it's also good. If not everyone may do as they please like what had happened in Thailand," he said.

The controversial Act, which comes into force on Aug 1, allows the prime minister to designate any area as a “security area”, where he can deploy forces to search any individual, vehicle or premise without a warrant.

Critics of the Act note that the new law in handing the power to declare “security areas" presently under the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to the prime minister gives the latter absolute power.