QUICK TAKE: Senator Dr Sim Kui Hian may be the lone voice from the government seeking vital changes to the proposed National Security Bill 2015 (NSC Bill) when he voiced out in the Senate for three changes.
“I call for the words ‘prime minister’ to be replaced with ‘Yang di-Pertuan Agong’, who will act on the advice of the National Security Council,” he said when debating the NSC Bill at the policy stage at the Senate House on Dec 21.
Sim, the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) president, also proposed that both the chief ministers of Sarawak and Sabah be included among the eight members of the proposed NSC.
The third change sought is the requirement of the consent of the chief minister before the declaration of any ‘Security Area’ within each respective state.
This has come as a very reasonable voice of concern and wisdom after much public outcry and uproar has seen a majority of dissenting opinions even among some members in BN.
The potential for abuse and misuse of the NSC Bill has given a majority of citizens major distress and furore with the perception that the BN government may use it against its political enemies, social activists and outspoken NGOs vocal in criticising its many abuses in recent months.
One can only wonder why BN lawmakers were silent when the bill was bulldozed in Parliament on Dec 3.
Were they silent or had they simply been ‘whiplashed’ by the BN Majority Whip to toe the line and vote according to Umno’s wishes?
The Opposition had in a solid block stood up against it unanimously and had voted it down, but their numbers were as to be expected overwhelmed.
For now, only the Senate has the legislative power to slow it down, or to amend it, or to stop it altogether.-The Ant Daily
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