Putrajaya withdraws two key bills
PARLIAMENT | Putrajaya has withdrawn two bills to amend the National Security Council Act 2016 and the constitution to lower the voting age.
Although Putrajaya had made known its intention to improve the bill on voting age, the withdrawal of the bill on the NSC came as a surprise...
PARLIAMENT | Putrajaya has withdrawn two bills to amend the National Security Council Act 2016, and the constitution to lower the voting age.
Although Putrajaya had made known its intention to improve the bill on voting age, the withdrawal of the bill on the NSC came as a surprise.
The amendment bill on the NSC had intended to substitute the word "prime minister" with "Yang di-Pertuan Agong" or "Yang di-Pertuan Agong, on the advice of the council".
The NSC Act is a highly controversial law enacted by the Najib Abdul Razak administration which gave the prime minister emergency-like powers.
These powers include defining "security zones" where security forces can arrest without a warrant, take possession of land, building or property.
The law also granted the NSC absolute legal immunity.
This law was heavily criticised for giving the prime minister wide powers with no avenue for checks and balances.
After the law was passed in 2016, PKR president Anwar Ibrahim (above) filed a suit to declare the NSC Act unconstitutional.
The matter is still pending in court.
Pakatan Harapan had pledged in its election manifesto to repeal the NSC Act, but decided to amend it instead after taking power.
As for the constitutional amendment bill to lower the voting age, Putrajaya had indicated that it would incorporate some elements sought by the opposition.
Among others, opposition MPs had demanded laws which mandated the automatic voter registration of those over 18, and that the age of election candidates be lowered to 18 as well.
Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had briefed MPs on government plans for the amendment bill today.
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