The path to dictatorship? Malaysia approves law that gives sweeping security powers to PM’s council
Security forces would be allowed, among other things, to impose curfews and would have wide powers of arrest, search and seizure without a warrant.
Malaysia’s Parliament has approved a security law that gives sweeping security powers to a council led by the prime minister, in a move slammed by rights groups and critics as a step toward a dictatorship.
The National Security Council bill was passed late on Thursday by a majority vote after hours of heated debate, with opposition lawmakers voicing fears the prime minister now has power to declare a state of emergency without having to seek consent from Malaysia’s King.
The bill gives the National Security Council the authority to impose strict policing in an area deemed to face a security risk. Once a security area is declared, security forces would be allowed, among other things, to impose curfews and would have wide powers of arrest, search and seizure without a warrant.
The New York-based Human Rights Watch called the proposed law a “frightening” tool for repression, adding to other abusive laws already being used by Prime Minister Najib Razak and his embattled government against critics.
Now we know what the path to Malaysian dictatorship looks like
Najib, who is under investigation in a US$700 million financial scandal, has said the bill is aimed at countering terrorism threats from within and outside the country, and would strengthen the National Security Council so that it was on par with similar agencies in the US and Britain.