Putrajaya wants NSC amended, not abolished

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s department Hanipa Maidin says the process to amend the act will be coordinated by the National Security Council, the Prime Minister’s Department and the Attorney-General’s Chambers.

KUALA LUMPUR: Putrajaya has decided to propose that the National Security Council 2016 Act be amended instead of abolished, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Hanipa Maidin said the government had studied the act in detail and decided that it should be amended.

“The process to amend it will be coordinated by the National Security Council, the Prime Minister’s Department and the Attorney-General’s Chambers,” he said in a written reply.

He was replying to Ramkarpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugor) who asked the prime minister to state the status of the review and if a decision had been made whether to abolish or amend the act.

In July, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the government would amend or repeal laws that restrict people’s freedom including the NSC. He said a review was being carried out as some of the laws were used by the previous government to restrict people’s freedom.

In August, Ramkarpal said the act should not be reviewed but should be repealed as promised by Pakatan Harapan in its election campaign.

In October, Law Minister Liew Vui Keong said a total of 113 laws would need to be repealed, amended or drafted including the laws related to the death penalty.

The proposed list includes the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 [Act 234], Sedition Act 1948, the Prevention of Crime Act 1959, the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2015, all laws related to the death penalty, the National Security Council Act 2016, and the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976 (marriage age limit). - FMT