GEORGE TOWN, Dec 23 — DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng insisted today that the Barisan Nasional (BN) federal government is steamrolling over human rights in the country, citing the easy passage of the controversial National Security Council (NSC) Bill 2015 through the Dewan Negara last night.

The Penang lawmaker voiced regret at the ease with which the Bill was approved and branded the BN senators irresponsible for the easy passage.

“It shows that they just talk as they like. They are not serious. They are irresponsible. They do not think human rights is important, so in short, they only know how to fool around, even on something as serious as this Bill,” he said during a press conference at his office today.

Lim said the passing of the controversial Bill means it places all power in only one person, the prime minister, which is very dangerous as there should be a procedure or process to declare a certain area as a security zone.

The Penang chief minister added that the heads of state governments should be made members of the NSC, while Sabah and Sarawak should be consulted as the Bill affects their rights as states with autonomy.

“Now they can do whatever they want with this Bill. They can move anyone from Penang to Johor if they wanted. This is a blatant disregard to justice, human rights and democracy,” he claimed.

The NSC Bill was passed unchanged last night and will be made law once the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong gives his royal assent.

The new Bill allows the NSC, as chaired by the prime minister, to take command of the country’s security forces and impose strict policing of areas deemed security risks.

Once the prime minister designates a location as a security area, it will give NSC jurisdiction over the area for up to six months.

When the NSC takes over, the security forces will have the right to search or arrest without warrant any individual “found committing, alleged to have committed, or reasonably suspected of having committed any offence under written laws in the security area”.

The Bill also seeks to empower security forces to arrest without warrant and take action against those who do not abide by an evacuation order from a security area, and also carry out searches of any vehicle or premise within the security area without a warrant.

The federal Opposition leaders and civil society have openly criticised the Bill, with even senators from BN voicing their concerns over the Bill during debates at Dewan Negara.