The Malaysian government will implement four transformation measures to strengthen the functions and roles of the National Security Council (NSC), including the MKN Bill expected to be tabled in the current Parliament sitting.
Prime Minister Najib Razak, who is also the NSC Chairman, said in Parliament on Monday (Oct 19) that the new Act was necessary to create the NSC legislatively as was done in several countries such as the United States, India, Japan, the Philippines, Thailand and the United Kingdom.
“The Bill will be tabled in Parliament during the Third Meeting of the Third Term of the 13th Parliament (October until December 2015),” he said in response to a question from Noor Ehsanuddin Mohd Harun Narrashid (BN-Kota Tinggi) at the House of Representatives sitting.
Noor Ehsanuddin had asked on the measures taken by the government to carry out a comprehensive transformation of the NSC so that it would be more effective in tackling the increasingly complex challenges, especially concerning global security lately.
In addition, Najib said the government would also review the NSC Directives and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) of the agency to ensure that the directives were still relevant and could be adopted to suit the current environment.
The Prime Minister said the strengthening of security management mechanism at the state level would also be continued through activities capable of creating a state of preparedness at the grassroots and national level.
In implementing the transformation, the government would also take measures to draft the National Security Policy to translate the government’s aspiration and stand in preserving security and safeguarding the strategic interest of the country especially in approaching the year 2020.
“This policy will become the principal policy that will guide other government policies and would be refined together with the Defence Policy, Internal Security Policy and other related policies.
“It will also be a guide to the security agencies in implementing their respective functions and responsibilities. The National Security Policy is expected to be finalised in early 2016,” Najib said.
Meanwhile, he said subsequent transformation would be to boost the capability of human capital by emplacing officers with the necessary skills and experience, and who were highly educated in analysing and managing national security based on appropriate job grades.
“This is to enable the NSC to become the source of reference by ministries and agencies concerning national security threats and the approach in managing such threats,” he said.
In this regard, Najib hoped the transformation measures could be implemented with everyone giving their undivided support to ensure that national security was preserved and defended by the people now and in future.
“Of course, this is in line with the decision made on July 29, 2015, where the government decided that the roles and functions of the NSC must be strengthened so that it would become a more efficient and effective front line in coordinating policies and strategies on national security.
“Certainly it was based on the current needs in facing the increasing security threats,” he said.
Replying to a supplementary question from Noor Ehsanuddin on the threat of cross-border crime including human trafficking and cyber crimes, Najib said the government, via the relevant ministries and agencies, was serious in tackling the issue including boosting the capacity of all existing resources to repel the various forms of threats.(channelnewsasia)
Link: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/malaysia-to-implement/2202576.html
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