Caucus chairman Anwar Ibrahim said this should be done before everything is finalised and presented to the Cabinet before the next Dewan Rakyat session.

Anwar said focus was given by the caucus to the proposed amendments to the Act, owing to the government’s plan to table it.

Anwar also said while Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and the Cabinet had previously agreed to return the powers of declaring an emergency to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, there are those who want the Act to be repealed.

“I feel the need to remind the people that the powers given to the NSC are to protect and preserve security areas.

“For instance, how do we tackle the problem of a border security breach by a foreign military force which is taking place, whether intentionally or not, or the entry of armed men.

“This needs special powers … certain emergency powers for very confined areas.

“The second relates to tackling major disasters, like the floods we saw in Manik Urai (Kelantan), which require the involvement of police, firemen and the army,” he said after chairing the caucus meeting today.

Also present were caucus members Padang Rengas MP Nazri Aziz, Pengerang MP Azalina Othman Said and Sungai Petani MP Johari Abdul.

The amendment bill was tabled at the last Dewan Rakyat sitting by Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohamed Hanipa Maidin for first reading.

The bill is slotted to be tabled for a second reading at the current sitting.

Among others, it proposes that the powers to declare security zones be transferred from the prime minister to the king on the advice of the NSC.

However, the prime minister will remain as chairman of the council.

The bill also proposes that the council’s director of operations may, in relation to a security area, request individuals or entities to provide information or intelligence in the interest of national security.

It said individuals who fail to comply with such requests can be liable to a maximum of five years’ jail, RM100,000 fine, or both, while entities can be fined up to RM200,000.

The bill also proposes heavier punishments for those who leak information or documents related to NSC, from the current maximum two years’ jail to five years.

NSC has three core functions — defending national sovereignty and strategic importance; crisis and disaster management; and border management of land, maritime and air resources.

Pakatan Harapan promised to repeal the act in the last general election.

Anwar to meet PSC heads to sort out problems

Meanwhile, Anwar said the caucus will be calling all special parliamentary select committee chairmen and the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) next week to discuss their functions and challenges they face.

Anwar said he had received feedback from some chairmen of the difficulties they face in getting certain senior officers to give briefings.

“This issue is about the limitation of parliamentary powers.

“The first step the caucus will take is to invite all these chairmen next week to discuss the problems and properly address them.”

Anwar was asked to comment on the problems currently being faced by these parliamentary select committees and proposals to improve on them.