Corrected at 12:10am, 20 Feb 2009
Bar council president Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan
PETALING JAYA, 19 Feb 2009: The Bar Council has reiterated (corrected) its stand on the Perak constitutional crisis — let the people decide.
Its president Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan said snap polls were now the best solution in view of new developments involving the suspension of Barisan Nasional (BN)-appointed Menteri Besar Datuk Zambry Abdul Kadir and his six executive councillors.
Ambiga said there were differing views on whether Speaker V Sivakumar followed the correct procedure in the suspensions.
One view is that the Speaker and the Committee of Special Privileges were acting within the powers vested in them, while another view holds that the suspensions ought to be referred to the state assembly before they can take effect.
Because of this, Ambiga said more suits are expected in the days to come.
“The legal actions are not the first and are unlikely to be the last. This is not desirable and does not provide an effective and definitive solution.
“Going back to the people of Perak will. We urge the parties involved to seriously consider doing so, not only in the interest of the people of Perak but also in the interest of stability and the nation as a whole,” she said in a press statement today.
Ambiga also noted that whether Sivakumar had followed correct procedures in ordering the suspensions, the matter lay “outside the jurisdiction of the courts” because of Article 72 of the Federal Constitution.
Article 72 spells out the privileges of the all state legislative assemblies, whereby the validity of its proceedings cannot be questioned in court.
“There are some overriding principles that operate in such situations. One is the doctrine of separation of powers, which means that the Judiciary cannot interfere in the workings of Parliament or the state assembly, as they have the privilege of regulating their own internal affairs and procedures,” Ambiga said.
The same doctrine applies to the Executive, which cannot influence the workings of Parliament and state assemblies.
“We say this as it has been reported that there are attempts to lodge police reports against the Speaker of the Perak (legislative) assembly, which would violate these provisions,” Ambiga added.
She was referring to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s advice to Zambry to lodge a police report against Sivakumar.
Abdullah said the Speaker had disrespected Sultan Azlan Shah who appointed Zambry and the excos.
Police reports pointless
Similarly, former Bar Council president Yeo Yang Poh said there was no basis for Zambry to lodge a police report against the Speaker because no criminal offence had been made.
“It is difficult to see what the offence is. Whether one agrees with the suspensions or not, it is a matter of interpretation and debate.
“If the report is lodged based on disrespect of the Sultan, what is the criminal offence? Is it to say having a difference of opinion is a criminal offence?” Yeo said.
Law lecturer Prof Dr Abdul Aziz Bari said people were free to lodge police reports on anything, but in this case, police could do little about it.
“The courts have consistently ruled that the House — whether it is the state legislative assembly or Parliament — is autonomous in its own right,” said Abdul Aziz who is with the International Islamic University. 
Alibaba says
Now Barisan Nasional feel their own medicine. Let’s kick the Barisan Nasional via the ballot box.
Billy says
To Najib – As Malcolm X once said, the chicken has come home to roost. With due respect to HRH the Sultan of Perak, please call for a dissolution of the state assembly. Let the people decide. If BN wins, the people have no choice but to accept it as it was they who have been clamouring for the dissolution.
And as for his Highness, he can now sleep peacefully at night without having the constant nightmares of the current politicking in his silver state. Above all, earn the respect back from the rakyat. Daulat Tuanku!
Hafidz Baharom says
Sigh…so basically we’re going to be stuck in political turmoil and probably not move any closer towards a united nation at all.
In other words, things are back to normal in Malaysia, but this time around, people give a damn.
RitaYeoh says
Yes, go back to the Rakyat to get a fresh and clear mandate. All that has happened came about because the Rule of Law was totally disregarded.
Please ask the ministers in Umno and Barisan Nasional, who have been serving since the tenure of Tun Dr Mahathir, and they CAN VERIFY that the Constitution was definitely amended (of course they can verify because they had all collectively agreed to the amendments). All that has taken place in Perak is not in accordance with the amended Constitution.
Very simple, just get it from the horse’s mouth. Why is Umno and Barison Nasional now making Malaysia a laughing stock?? Barisan Nasional brought an action for CORRUPTION against the two ex-PKR MPs and suddenly they have roped in the same very two people accused of CORRUPTION into their stable.
WOW, it speaks volumes, Barisan Nasional BOLEH. Personally, I find it DISGUSTING how we can have so-called leaders governing our BELOVED MALAYSIA.
SNarayanan says
To resolve this issue just call for a snap election. The Rakyat is getting absolutely “fed up” with the way BN is bypassing the constitutional law. If BN can do what they like without following the correct procedures, GOD help Malaysia. The kind of political candidates we have in the BN leave much to be desired. At their whim and fancy they change the way to govern, do not adopt correct procedures and expect the constitution to conform to their decisions. It just goes to show how shoddy and shady the BN has become. This year Malaysia is definitely heading for change, the people will win, and BN will definitely lose big-time and I hope pretty soon.