19 October 2015•Update: 19 October 2015
By P Prem Kumar
KUALA LUMPUR
Malaysia’s prime minister announced Monday that a National Security Council Act will be introduced to enhance the country's measures against terror threats.
Najib Razak said the bill -- intended to strengthen the National Security Council (NSC) by giving it legal power over military forces -- would be tabled in the current parliament sitting, which lasts until early December.
"In line with the changing geopolitical landscape and the type of threats from non-state actors, regardless of whether from overseas or from within, violent extremism in Malaysia is real and the government has given due attention to combat it," he told parliament.
"Therefore, the government is now in the process of strengthening the NSC to make it more efficient and effective in streamlining the policies as well as the country's security strategies," Razak added.
The premier said the transformation would put the agency, which is chaired by the Malaysian premier, on par with its peers worldwide.
"This includes the need to formulate a new act -- the NSC Act -- to establish the council by way of law as it is done in several countries such as the United States, India, Japan, Philippines, Thailand, United Kingdom and many others," he said.
In a related development, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi dismissed speculation Monday that Malaysia was being used by “international terrorists” as a hub.
He told parliament the claims were baseless and unverified, as the threat of terrorism was under control.
"Based on surveillance conducted by the Royal Malaysia Police, Malaysia is merely a transit country," he said.
So far, Malaysia has detained 132 people it claims are linked with terrorist groups, including Daesh, with the help of international intelligence agencies.
