Hishammuddin: I will accept NSC Bill as is

Defence Minister reiterates that foreign threats are real and that he would use the NSC Bill as a form of defence to safeguard the country.

KUALA LUMPUR: Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said today that he will accept the National Security Council (NSC) Bill in the context of the country’s safety and defence.

He said however that it was up to the people to decide on the outcome of the bill although he did caution that foreign threats to the country were real.

“I speak in the context of the safety and defence of the country. However you look at it, these threats are real.

“As the minister of defence I will accept it and deal with it,” Hishammuddin said at a press conference in Parliament today.

He reiterated that the threats especially from terrorist group Islamic State (IS) was a serious issue.

Last week, Hishammuddin announced that he would be visiting Saudi Arabia in January to discuss the alliance of 34 Muslim nations to fight against terrorism.

He said that the visit would serve as a show of Malaysia’s support for peace, and to uphold the agreement that Muslim countries unite to fight terrorism.