How can we trust Najib with NSC when he can't even explain the RM2.6 billion 'donation'

KUALA LUMPUR - How can Malaysians trust the Prime Minister with the full weight of the National Security Council (NSC) bill when he cannot even explain the RM 2.6 billion donation issue?

This was the question posed by Lawyers for Liberty executive director Eric Paulsen in arguing against the NSC 2015 bill.

Speaking to FMT after the launch of the #TakNakDiktator campaign against the controversial bill, Paulsen explained Malaysia’s NSC committee differed from the British version as the latter was only a cabinet committee to formulate policy.

“The British NSC does not empower the PM to wield so much power.”

“What is the rush in pushing through this law?

“If Najib can’t explain the RM2.6 billion issue would you trust him with so much power?”

He said there were already sufficient laws to deal with national security threats.

Earlier, Paulsen said the bill was ominous to Malaysia’s existence.

He added South East Asia had witnessed a number of dictatorial regimes cling to power in Indonesia and Philippines.

“Once the genie is out of the bottle it is hard to put it back in,” he said adding Malaysia is going down that slippery slope.

At the press conference, National Human Rights Society (HAKAM) president Ambiga Sreenevasan was baffled as to why the Cabinet and MPs wanted to give so much power to the Prime Minister through the NSC.

“I just don’t understand it. Why are they keeping quiet?” she asked reporters after the launch of the #TakNakDiktator campaign to stop the NSC bill.

Civil society groups fear of dark days ahead if the NSC bill comes into effect.

Ambiga reiterated concerns over the excessive powers the bill grants the NSC, headed by the prime minister.

“No other real democracy, whether the United Kingdom, the USA or Australia have legistlation like this.”

She said these countries faced greater security threats and they do not have legislation which sees so much powers granted to one person.

Institut Rakyat executive director Yin Shao Loong said the powers within the bill would transform the country from a constitutional monarchy founded on parliamentary democracy into a presidential system and a presidential dictatorship.

“Democracy is in bad health in Malaysia and on the edge of abyss, if the bill comes into effect democracy in Malaysia will be in deep trouble and we will be in deep trouble.”

Civil society movements are also concerned with the ambiguity in the law’s definitions and fear it would lead to abuse.

By Robin Augustin