NSC gives PM absolute power, Ambiga says

Former Bar Council president says provisions in the Bill contradict Shahidan Kassim’s statement that "the PM does not have absolute power."

PETALING JAYA: Lawyer, activist and #TakNakDiktator Campaign Coalition spokesperson, Ambiga Sreenevasan said that provisions in the National Security Council (NSC) Bill contradict the Bill’s proponents, including claims that “the PM does not have absolute power” as asserted by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Shahidan Kassim.

In a statement today, Ambiga explained that Section 18 of the Bill was merely “advisory”, and that the PM was not obliged to take their advice.

“The PM, without reference to the Council, may in his sole discretion extend the declaration ad infinitum,” she said in a statement.

“If one studies the Bill carefully, it appears to provide ‘checks and balances’, but on closer scrutiny we can see that it is anything but that.”

“Surely, giving one person all powers over security with no checks and balances does not enhance security but could, in fact, compromise security.”

Ambiga added that proponents of the Bill had also resorted to the usual fear-inducing statements like “the security of the nation is at stake.”

“What the government cannot answer is what is so unique about the security situation in this country that we must have far more draconian legislation than any other democratic nation, including those that have more extreme security threats than Malaysia.

“They have not explained why they do not trust the police with doing the job, given the awesome powers they have under the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2002 (Pota), Prevention of Crime Act 1959 (Poca), Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma).”

“They are also mistaken to assert we are not concerned about security. Everyone is concerned about security. Unfortunately, this Bill is not about security,” she said.

“The Rakyat wanted more time to discuss the Bill but we were deprived of this by the very people who swore to uphold the Constitution and who were duty bound to speak for the Rakyat.”

Ambiga also said she detested the idea of MPs and Senators proposing to explain the “foisting of this abomination” upon the country to the Rakyat and to the next generation.

She noted that it was unexplainable how they “ignored the precious document that is the Federal Constitution.”