The Star reported today that the controversial bill became law on Tuesday after it was deemed to have received the royal assent at the end of the 30-day period even without the King signing off on the bill.

This was confirmed by Attorney-General Mohamed Apandi Ali in a WhatsApp message to the English daily.

The controversial Act, passed by Parliament on Dec 3 and the Dewan Negara on Dec 22, will be enforced on a date which will be determined by the prime minister.

When it was first brought up in Parliament, detractors argued that the Act would give the prime minister absolute powers which they feared could be abused.

The Act will allow for the establishment of a National Security Council, to be headed by Najib as chairman, with Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi being the deputy chairman.

Other NSC members include the home minister, defence minister, communications and multimedia minister, chief secretary to the government, chief of the armed forces and the Inspector-General of Police.

The Act empowers the prime minister to declare any zone a “security area” with just the council’s approval, thereby allowing security forces to make arrests, seize or even destroy property.

The Act also allows the security forces to arrest a person without a warrant.