No end in sight for Perak crisis

IPOH, 12 May 2009: With the Court of Appeal in Putrajaya allowing a stay of execution on yesterday’s High Court decision declaring Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin as the rightful menteri besar, the Perak crisis appears set to continue.

With the suspension of the declaratory order, the post of Perak Menteri Besar was returned to Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir pending the hearing of his appeal against the High Court decision.

This at the same time shortened Nizar’s tenure of service as Menteri Besar which only allowed him to chair one executive council (exco) meeting early this morning at the state PAS office here and attend the investiture ceremony in conjunction with Sultan Azlan Shah’s birthday at Istana Iskandariah, Bukit Chandan, Kuala Kangsar, thereafter.

If yesterday Zambry had vacated his office after being informed of the Kuala Lumpur High Court ruling, today he asked Nizar to do the same.

Speaking to reporters here, Zambry said he would continue the duties as Menteri Besar as usual following the Court of Appeal decision today and asked Nizar to respect the legal process.

Zambry said he would continue serving as Menteri Besar until the end of the legal process at the Court of Appeal and probably also at the Federal Court.

Court of Appeal Judge Datuk Ramly Ali who allowed Zambry’s application for the stay of execution of the High Court decision, said the court would fix an early date to hear Zambry’s appeal.

Zambry said that with the court decision, Datuk Seri Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Hashim and Datuk Ahmad Kamal Shahid were reinstated as Perak State Secretary and State Legal Adviser respectively.

Moreover the decision to suspend them that was made by the executive council (exco) meeting chaired by Nizar late last night until early morning would only take effect if another meeting upheld it.

Nizar today suspended Dr Abdul Rahman and appointed State Finance Officer Datuk Jamaluddin Al Amini Ahmad as acting State Secretary.

Nizar also announced the suspension of Ahmad Kamal. The notice of Dr Abdul Rahman and Ahmad Kamal’s suspension was put on the Bangunan Perak Darul Ridzuan notice board.

PR studying decision

Meanwhile, Nizar and his exco members complied with the Court of Appeal decision and vacated their offices as of 2.30pm.

Speaking to a press conference at the Perak DAP office, he said his lawyers were studying the possibility of appealing to set aside the Court of Appeal decision.

The DAP-PKR-PAS pact adhered to the order though it considered the decision as “unusual” and would bring up many other questions which could complicate the situation further, he said.

“We will seek advice from our panel of lawyers for further action. We will follow the established regulatory laws,” he said.

Nizar also reiterated the stance of the opposition pact that still wanted to dissolve the state legislative assembly to restore the political situation in Perak.

When asked on the pact’s readiness if a motion of no confidence against him as Menteri Besar was brought to the state legislative assembly sitting, he said: “We will see if it is held according to requirements that allows it to be held.

“At all times the post of Menteri Besar, namely from my swearing-in, has never been vacated and I have never resigned.”

Asked about his audience with the Perak Regent Raja Dr Nazrin Shah at Istana Iskandariah in Kuala Kangsar today, Nizar said he had a long chat with His Highness on general topics and not on political issues.

Previously, Nizar had been said to have sent a letter requesting an audience with the Sultan of Perak to seek his consent to dissolve the Perak state legislative assembly.

Following the developments, the police continue to guard the entrance to Bangunan Perak Darul Ridzuan. — Bernama