Pakatan government does a U-turn on retaining the NSC

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad confirmed that the NSC Act was among laws being reviewed

(FMT) – The Ministry of Defence today denied media reports quoting Mohamad Sabu that the government would study whether the National Security Council (NSC), known by its Malay abbreviation MKN, would be retained or abolished. 

Instead, it said what Mohamad had meant was a review of PLKN, the reference to the National Service Training Programme.

“We wish to clarify that the review as stated by the minister is on PLKN and not the MKN,” the ministry said in a statement.

In an interview on Thursday, Mohamad or Mat Sabu was reported as saying that Putrajaya would review the NSC set up by the previous administration, to ensure it will not become a political tool.

“We will look at it seriously, whether to retain or abolish it,” he said.

The National Security Council Act was passed in Parliament in December 2015 amid protests by Pakatan Harapan MPs, who called it a “death sentence” on democracy in Malaysia.

The law empowers the Council to declare a state of emergency in a designated area; grant unprecedented powers to security forces to make arrests and conduct forced evacuation in the area; and grants all members of the council and those operating under it complete exemption from legal liabilities and prosecution.

Mat Sabu’s statement was widely criticised by civil society groups as well as ruling politicians from PH, who reminded the coalition of its promise to do away with the controversial law.

However, speaking to reporters in Langkawi today, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad confirmed that the NSC Act was among laws being reviewed.

“There are many laws denying people the freedom of speech, press and action,” he said as quoted by Bernama.