(Updated 8:39pm; 5 Feb 2009)
PETALING JAYA, 5 Feb 2009: Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin has informed the Sultan of Perak that he is not stepping down until the state’s political crisis is resolved by the legislative assembly or the courts.
Nizar cited Article XVI(6) of the Perak state constitution which states: “If the Menteri Besar ceases to command the confidence of the majority of the Legislative Assembly, then, unless at his request His Royal Highness dissolves the Legislative Assembly, he shall tender the resignation of the Executive Council.”
“This means the support for the menteri besar must be decided at the state assembly,” Nizar said in a three-page letter that was delivered to the Sultan in the late afternoon.
He also said it was inaccurate to assume that that the Barisan Nasional (BN) had the majority of seats in the state assembly because the BN and the Pakatan Rakyat both had 28 seats each.
“The state assembly speaker has already declared that the elected representatives for Behrang, Changkat Jering and Jelapang are no longer state assemblypersons.
“The speaker and the state government have also filed an application in the High Court this morning to declare that the three are no longer state assemblypersons.
“It is only appropriate that we wait for the court’s decision on this matter,” Nizar said.
Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who is Perak BN chairperson, announced that Bota state assemblyperson Datuk Nasaruddin Hashim had rejoined Umno after defecting to Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) on 25 Jan 2009.
Three other assemblypersons — Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi (Behrang), Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu (Changkat Jering) and Hee Yit Foong (Jelapang) — remain as “friendly” independents who will support the BN in any vote in the Perak state assembly.
Jamaluddin and Mohd Osman, both formerly from PKR, are facing corruption charges. Hee was from the DAP.
Nizar added in his letter to the Sultan that the Pakatan Rakyat leadership was unanimous in asking him not to step down as menteri besar until the constitutional crisis in the state was resolved by the court or the state assembly.
Nizar appealed to the Sultan, based on these reasons and the principles of democracy and of a constitutional monarchy, to dissolve the state assembly so that the people can go to the polls to choose the government that they want.
Earlier today, Sultan Azlan Shah decided he would not give his consent for the state assembly to be dissolved after meeting with the 28 BN assemblypersons and the three independents who have stated their support for the BN.
He also decreed that Nizar and his state executive council must step down with immediate effect.
The Sultan’s office, in a statement today, said that after meeting all the 28 Barisan Nasional (BN) assemblypersons and the three independents, the sultan was convinced that Mohammad Nizar had ceased to command the confidence of the majority of the state assembly members.
Earlier, Bernama reported that Nizar held a press conference after meeting with Pakatan Rakyat leaders at 3pm. At the same press conference, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Pakatan supported Nizar’s stand and asked that the Perak state constitution be respected.
“We believe that this problem can be resolved and that the Perak Sultan will give his due consideration.”
Anwar also claimed that Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had wrested power in Perak by buying over the assemblymen and issuing threats.
“Only the court can resolve the matter by calling for a new state election,” he said and urged PR supporters to be calm.
Meanwhile, PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang who agreed with Anwar’s views, said even the rulers needed to follow the laws in a democracy and under the constitutional monarchy system.
He said Pas was of the view that legally, Mohammad Nizar was still the Menteri Besar until the issue was resolved.
Abdul Hadi said what was happening in Perak was a violation of the state constitution and the country’s democratic system.
DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang described the situation as “abnormal, shocking and alarming”.
Earlier, the Perak state government leaders held a meeting with PR leaders which took more than an hour from 3pm at the Menteri Besar’s residence. 
Goldee says
I, a Perakian, am totally felt disgusted with the current state of affairs in my silver state due to BN’s greed for power. BN has stooped that low to grab power at all costs from Pakatan Rakyat to the extent of claiming that they have the support of the two tainted ex-PR representatives and the shameless ex-DAP woman. I would like to remind BN that the support from the three so-called independent MPs, does not mean BN has the “support of the people” in general.
May I asked the three “Independent MPs” if they have got the consent and support from their grassroots supporters to defect and support BN to rule? I strongly believe they did not because they were in the “missing act”, busy sorting out things with their “friends” from the opposition.
It just shows that BN has no principles and they would not mind at all to associate with and get the support from people of low moral character just to be in power.
This is just to show that BN are nothing but a bunch of hopeless people of low or no morals at all.
5 Feb 09 is a mourning day not only for Perak but the whole nation. I believe BN will carry on doing this shameful act, trying their luck on Selangor and Kedah.
It’s comical for the new Perak MB to tell the people not to bicker and fight any longer for there are many issues to be done. May I ask the new MB who has created and caused the instability in the state. Since they are in control now through using dirty tactic he expects people to stay cool and to keep quite about it.
God bless Perak.