NSC Bill 2015: Automatic assent in one day?
PETALING JAYA: Pokok Sena MP Mahfuz Omar questioned how the National Security Council (NSC) Bill 2015 could have been given automatic assent when it had only been a day since it was presented to the King on Feb 17, 2016.
“The public was informed that the NSC Bill 2015 had been presented to the King and the Conference of Rulers on Feb 17, 2016 during the Conference of Rulers’ 240th Meeting at the Istana Negara. The NSC Bill 2015 was briefed by the Attorney-General himself,” the PAS lawmaker said in a statement issued today.
“The Conference of Rulers requested that the NSC Bill 2015 be refined through several amendments and the proposal was accepted by the Prime Minister and the Attorney-General.
“Then on June 7, 2016, the NSC Bill 2015 had been established and stated that the date of Royal Assent was on Feb 18, 2016 in accordance with Article 66 Clause 4A of the Federal Constitution.”
According to Article 66 Clause 4A of the Federal Constitution, if the King fails to give his assent to any Bill within 30 days, it will still become an Act.
“Presented and briefed on Feb 17, 2016. Assented in accordance with Clause 4A on Feb 18, 2016. Does that amount to 30 days according to Clause 4A?”
Mahfuz then questioned whether it had, in fact, been presented earlier and if so whether the King had expressed his opposition to the Bill.
“Was the NSC Bill 2015 presented earlier, and if so when? If it was presented earlier, what was the response from the King that the Bill had to be assented without the Royal Seal?”
Post a Comment