The power given to the prime minister to declare “security zones” under the National Security Council (NSC) Act 2016 was akin to giving the prime minister the “power of life and death” over people.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said this is why the proposed amendments to the NSC Act, tabled in Parliament earlier today, include transferring the power to declare “security zones” to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong...