NSC Bill is core issue, not permission to conduct briefing

Hakam president tells Dewan Negara president that whether she sought permission or not to hold a briefing on the National Security Bill is not the core issue.

PETALING JAYA: At a time when democracy is under threat, pointless issues such as the permissibility of briefings by civil society leaders to senators should not be the centre of discussion.

National Human Rights Society (Hakam) President S Ambiga said this when responding to Dewan Negara President Abu Zahar Ujang’s displeasure that she had proceeded with a briefing to senators at Parliament house without obtaining the necessary permission first.

Ambiga also said Abu Zahar should focus his attention on the highly criticised National Security Council (NSC) Bill instead of engaging in “pointless exchanges.”

“Civil society engagement with lawmakers is an important part of the democratic process that must be recognised and respected by parliamentarians and senators alike.

“It would have been far more beneficial to have had an extensive briefing with senators who would soon be considering the Bill,” she said in a statement today.

Apart from holding the briefing without permission, Abu Zahar said it had affected the Senate’s proceedings on Tuesday.

To this, Ambiga responded by stating that invitation letters had been personally emailed to all senators as well as a letter issued to Abu Zahar himself on December 10.

She said while only Opposition senators attended the briefing, they then returned to Parliament the next day and sought out Barisan Nasional senators in an effort to put forward the concerns voiced regarding the Bill.

“Such briefings between parliamentarians and civil society organisations have been done countless times before and are an accepted form of engaging lawmakers.

“We were therefore surprised and disappointed at being taken to task in relation to what is a norm in a vibrant democracy.”

Abu Zahar in his statement also said a show cause letter had been issued to the Parliament officer who allowed Ambiga to conduct the briefing and this, said Ambiga, should be withdrawn immediately.

“We have always assumed that senators are free to use facilities in Parliament and we are deeply concerned that the President’s stand is that it requires his permission.

“We must not be distracted from the core issue of addressing serious concerns about the NSC Bill,” she added.