KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's government has defended a controversial national security council bill that was hastily passed in parliament Thursday night, the year's final session.

Cabinet minister Shahidan Kassim said the law is necessary to enable better coordination and a uniform response in the event the country is faced with security threats.

He said the law does not contravene the basic human rights guaranteed under the federal constitution. But, many are not convinced.

Malaysia's parliament passed the bill just two days after it was tabled, spurring opposition accusations that it was quickly rammed through to thwart scrutiny and debate.

It was rushed through the policy and committee stage before it passed its final reading in parliament without amendment by a majority voice vote.

Opposition MPs and civil rights groups have labelled the law draconian and raised fears of possible authoritarian rule, arguing that too much power is concentrated in the hands of the Prime Minister.

Under the legislation, the Prime Minister alone can decide how big the "security area" is in the event the country is faced with national threats. Within that area, authorities could make arrests and conduct search and seizures without a warrant.

Their actions can not be held liable in the court of law if they are done in "good faith".

"The National Security Council bill is nothing but a brazen attempt at silencing all criticism of the Najib administration, particularly Najib himself," said opposition MP Azmin Ali.

"This law will take us only to one path, and that is the path to dictatorship," he said.

"This will change Malaysia, this will change parliamentary democracy in Malaysia and this will change rule of law in Malaysia," said Ambiga Sreenevasan, the president of national human rights society HAKAM.

Bar council president Steven Thiru has urged for its withdrawal in entirety, saying the bill was not necessary as existing laws are enough to deal with security threats.

"This is a grave infringement of the federal constitution," he said.

The hasty passage came as Prime Minister Najib Razak seeks to find closure to the protracted 1 MDB scandal, as he faces delegates within his own ruling party UMNO at the party annual general assembly next week (Dec 8-12)

He will also face further criticisms that this law may be used to stifle dissent and consolidate his power base.

Speculation is rising that the financial scandal could be the final straw that dumps the coalition from power after nearly six decades, and that the government is manoeuvring to prevent that by any means.

The next elections are due by 2018.