Only those holding security-related portfolios should be in NSC - Takiyuddin
PARLIAMENT | De facto law minister Takiyuddin Hassan said the clause to remove the "deputy prime minister" as a member of the National Security Council (NSC) was because only those who hold portfolios related to national security and defence should be in the council.
"Taking into consideration the current situation and the future, only those who hold portfolios related to national security and defence should be members (of the NSC).
PARLIAMENT | De facto law minister Takiyuddin Hassan said the clause to remove the "deputy prime minister" as a member of the National Security Council (NSC) was because only those who hold portfolios related to national security and defence should be in the council.
"Taking into consideration the current situation and the future, only those who hold portfolios related to national security and defence should be members (of the NSC).
"So in the future, if a DPM holds a different portfolio not related to security and defence, their membership (in the NSC) is not necessary," Takiyuddin said during his wrapping up speech for the committee stage of the National Security Council (Amendment) Bill 2020 in the Dewan Rakyat today.
He also explained that the DPM was not a member in the predecessor of the NSC before 2015.
However, Takiyuddin noted that at that time, the deputy prime minister could be invited to the meetings based on necessity.
The DPM became a member of the council when the NSC Act was passed in the Dewan Rakyat in 2015 because the DPM at that time was also the home affairs minister, he said.
In 2015, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi held both the portfolios of DPM and home affairs minister.
Takiyuddin was responding to Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin (Harapan – Hang Tuah Jaya) who had said that the clause in the amendment to remove the DPM as a member of the NSC seemed like a short-sighted move.
"Now we do not have a DPM, but what if tomorrow or next week, Kota Bharu becomes the DPM?" Shamsul asked, referring to Takiyuddin, who is also the Kota Bharu MP.
The National Security Council (Amendment) Bill 2020 was later passed by the Dewan Rakyat via a voice vote.
On Aug 18, the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government had re-tabled the bill which was first tabled by the Pakatan Harapan government last year.
The new bill retained all the amendments pushed for by Harapan, including shifting the power to declare emergency zones from the prime minister to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong upon receiving the advice of the council.
However, there were additional clauses to remove the DPM as a member of the NSC and for the deputy chair position to be filled by a person of the prime minister's choosing among the council members.
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