National Security Council Act 2016

National Security Council Act 2016
Parliament of Malaysia
  • An Act to provide for the establishment of the National Security Council, the declaration of security areas, the special powers of the Security Forces in the security areas and other related matters.
CitationAct 776
Territorial extentMalaysia
Passed byDewan Rakyat
Passed3 December 2015
Passed byDewan Negara
Passed22 December 2015
Royal assent18 February 2016
Commenced7 June 2016
Effective1 August 2016, [P.U. (B) 310/2016][1]
Legislative history
Initiating chamber: Dewan Rakyat
Bill titleNational Security Council Bill 2015
Bill citationD.R. 38/2015
Introduced byShahidan Kassim, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department
First reading1 December 2015
Second reading3 December 2015
Third reading3 December 2015
Revising chamber: Dewan Negara
Bill titleNational Security Council Bill 2015
Bill citationD.R. 38/2015
Member(s) in chargeShahidan Kassim, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department
First reading7 December 2015
Second reading21 December 2015
Third reading22 December 2015
Amended by
National Security Council (Amendment) Act 2020 [Act A1625]
Related legislation
Public Authorities Protection Act 1948 [Act 198]
Keywords
National security council, national security
Status: In force

National Security Council Act 2016 (Malay: Akta Majlis Keselamatan Negara 2016) is a Malaysian law that "provide for the establishment of the National Security Council, the declaration of security areas, the special powers of the Security Forces in the security areas and other related matters". The Malaysian government claimed that this Act is intended to strengthen the government's ability to address increasing threats to the nation's security, including threats of violent extremism.[2][3] Its bill was introduced into parliament by Shahidan Kassim on 1 December 2015.[4] It was passed by the Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives) on 3 December 2015,[5] and the Dewan Negara (Senate) on 22 December 2015 without amendment.[3]

The Act was deemed to have received royal assent on 18 February 2016 in pursuant to Clause 4A of Article 66 of the Federal Constitution, where a bill is automatically deemed to have been assented and becomes law if the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King) did not give his assent within 30 days after the bill was presented to him.[6] This Act is thought to be the first ever Act of Parliament in Malaysia to become law in this manner without the express assent of the monarch.[7]

The Act has faced considerable consideration from human rights groups and other organisations both within Malaysia and internationally. Before the bill passed the Senate, the European Parliament passed a resolution calling for the Bill's withdrawal.[3]

Structure

The National Security Council Act 2016, in its current form (7 June 2016), consists of 7 Parts containing 44 sections and no schedule (including no amendment).

  • Part I: Preliminary
  • Part II: National Security Council
  • Part III: Duties of the Director General of National Security and Government Entities
  • Part IV: Declaration of Security Area
  • Part V: Special Powers of the Director of Operations and Security Forces Deployed to the Security Area
  • Part VI: General
  • Part VII: Savings

References

  1. ^ "National Security Council Act 2016: Appointment of Date Coming into Operation" (PDF). Attorney General's Chamber of Malaysia. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  2. ^ Parameswaran, Prashanth (24 December 2015). "Malaysia Passes Controversial National Security Law". The Diplomat. Archived from the original on 24 December 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  3. ^ a b c Naidu, Sumisha (22 December 2015). "Malaysia Senate passes controversial security bill". Channel NewsAsia. Archived from the original on 28 November 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  4. ^ "List of Bills". Parliament of Malaysia. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  5. ^ Ramzy, Austin (3 December 2015). "Malaysian Security Law Invites Government Abuses, Rights Groups Say". New York Times. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  6. ^ Koshy, Shaila (9 June 2016). "Controversial NSC Act is now law". The Star. Archived from the original on 15 June 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  7. ^ Thiru, Steven (15 June 2016). "Press Comment | National Security Council Act 2016 has All the Hallmarks of Authoritarianism". Malaysian Bar. Retrieved 19 March 2026.