NSC Act gave PM 'powers of life and death', says Dr M
The power given to the prime minister to declare “security zones” under the National Security Council (NSC) Act 2016 was akin to giving the prime minister the “power of life and death” over people.
Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said this is why the proposed amendments to the NSC Act, tabled in Parliament earlier today, include transferring the power to declare “security zones” to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong...
The power given to the prime minister to declare “security zones” under the National Security Council (NSC) Act 2016 was akin to giving the prime minister the “power of life and death” over people.
Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said this is why the proposed amendments to the NSC Act, tabled in Parliament earlier today, include transferring the power to declare “security zones” to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
“It was the wrong law anyway. The power to declare emergency is with the king, of course with advice from the prime minister.
“But when you give the prime minister that power, it is possible for him to declare a certain area as a security area, and in that area, he can arrest people without going to court and if somebody dies, there will be no inquiry.
“So it will give the prime minister, actually, the power of life and death over people. This is terrible,” Mahathir said in a press conference at parliament today.
He stressed that such powers should belong solely to the king as it provides more “barriers” before security zones can be declared.
“So that is why we don’t wanna give the prime minister too much power to the point he can actually break the law legally,” he added.
Earlier today, the government tabled amendments to the NSC Act in the Dewan Rakyat, which include stripping powers from the prime minister while further empowering the act.
The NSC (Amendment) Act 2019, if passed, will also see more teeth being added to the council in relation to possible prosecution for actions such as information leaks and non-compliance by individuals.
Aside from transferring the prime minister’s powers to declare “security zones” to the Agong, the revised act will also see the prime minister being stripped of his power to “make regulations” to control the movements of persons and vehicles; to prescribe prohibitive actions; to prescribe possession of land, buildings and properties; and to prescribe destruction of buildings in security areas.
Under the amended bill, the authority to make such decisions has been transferred to the NSC.
However, the prime minister remains the chairperson of the NSC.
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