“We will look at it seriously, whether to retain or abolish it,” he said at a group interview with the media at his ministry today.

He made it clear that NSC should not be pressured or influenced into supporting any political party.

“Whether Amanah, DAP or PPBM, we want it to be patriotic towards Malaysia.

“It must have sincerity (to serve the country). Previously, it was more political,” he added.

The NSC was established by an Act of Parliament passed in December 2015, and fiercely opposed by Pakatan Harapan MPs who called the legislation a “death sentence” on democracy in Malaysia.

Among other things, the law empowers the NSC to declare a state of emergency in a designated area; grants unprecedented powers to security forces to make arrests and conduct forced evacuation in the area; and grants all members of the council and those operating under it complete exemption from legal liabilities and prosecution.

Former prime minister Najib Razak said the government needed the NSC to provide adequate powers for the security forces and all relevant government agencies to respond to threats to national security.