The refusal of the government to amend the Bill, as requested by the Rulers, showed how they were ignored and deemed unnecessary by Umno-BN, alleged Amanah Strategy Director Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.

“Despite a commitment to look into the refinement that was set by Putrajaya, it did not happen.

“Our democracy is on the brink of collapse because there is no longer a check and balance of the three branches.

“The Conference of Rulers’ request was ignored and they (Umno) said it is not necessary for the Rulers to be referred,” he told a press conference at the Amanah Sungai Besar office today.

Yesterday, Nazri was reported as saying that there was no disrespect shown to the Rulers when the National Security Council (NSC) Bill became law without assent from the Conference of Rulers.

He also said it was impossible to amend the Bill as it had been debated and approved by both the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara.

Anyway, Nazri said any amendments that needed to be done to the Act could still be made at the next Dewan Rakyat session.

On Feb 17 this year, the Conference of Rulers, after being briefed by Attorney-General  Mohamed Apandi Ali at their 240th meeting at Istana Negara, felt that several provisions in the NSC Bill had to be refined.

The Bill provides for the establishment of a National Security Council, declaration of security areas, special powers of the security forces in the security areas and other related matters.

It was passed by the Dewan Rakyat on Dec 3, 2015 and by the Dewan Negara on Dec 22, 2015. After a period of 30 days, without royal assent, it was gazetted on June 7. The date for it to be enforced has not been announced yet.

Dzulkefly claimed the refusal by Nazri to admit that the government had ignored the Rulers was a sad and bleak day for Malaysians.

“While that may be a conundrum, the spirit of this draconian law provides powers beyond that granted constitutionally, but when Nazri said this, it’s almost like a declaration of war (on the Rulers).”