PETALING JAYA, 21 May 2009: Only the sultan of Perak and the prime minister can solve the current Perak political crisis by allowing for a dissolution of the state assembly, said human rights movement Aliran.
Its president, P Ramakrishnan, in a statement today, said the current political crisis in Perak cannot be solved in courts.
“The courts would only delay the outcome and prolong the uncertainties, and provoke further political reactions endangering the peace and harmony enjoyed by the people for the last one year,” Ramakrishnan reasoned.
Therefore, he urged Sultan of Perak Sultan Azlan Shah and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to heed the feelings of the people and the demand to dissolve the Perak assembly as it is the only solution to the crisis.
He said various parties including the Senate president Tan Sri Dr Abdul Hamid Pawanteh, Suhakam chairperson Tan Sri Abu Talib Othman, Penang Gerakan, lawyers, and concerned civil societies and citizens have voiced out similar thoughts on the matter.
“The sultan by now must know how angry and upset his subjects are that three unscrupulous politicians have subverted democracy and overturned a people’s government by their unbecoming conduct,” said Ramakrishnan
He added that the Perakians have the right to decide who should form their state government.
Ramakrishnan called on Najib to “rise above politics and act as a states[person] in the interest of the country” by pleading to Sultan Azlan Shah to dissolve the Perak assembly.
“He cannot ignore this groundswell any longer if he lays any claim in wanting to be the people’s PM,” said Ramakrishnan.
The Perak crisis was triggered by the desertion of three Pakatan Rakyat (PR) assemblypersons who opted to become Barisan Nasional (BN)-friendly independents, leading to PR losing its majority in the state assembly.
The PR’s Perak MB Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin was ousted after BN’s Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir was sworn in as Perak menteri besar on 6 Feb following the BN takeover of the state government.
Nizar’s request to the sultan of Perak on 5 Feb to dissolve the state assembly to make way for snap polls was turned down. Other attempts since then to seek the sultan’s consent to dissolve the state assembly have also failed.
On 13 Feb, Nizar, 52, filed a judicial review and sought a declaration from the courts that he was at all material times the menteri besar of Perak. He also sought a declaration that Zambry had no right to hold the office of menteri besar.
On 11 May, High Court (Appellate and Special Powers Division) judge Datuk Abdul Aziz Abd Rahim ruled that Nizar was the rightful MB.
But with the stay order on 12 May, Zambry reassumed the position of Perak menteri besar, and his appeal against the high court decision is currently being heard at the Court of Appeal. 
raguel says
Only Najib can resolve the Perak crisis. Even the sultan bows to his instructions for fear of powers being clipped like during the Mahathir era. All political players self-serving especially ruling party, grab power perpetuate power, now and even 13th GE. Like Myanmar case, Marcos, who else?
jebat says
The whole world knows that the High Court in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia has declared Datuk Seri Mohd Nizar the legal and rightful Menteri Besar of Perak. Datuk Seri Zambry has accepted that declaration with ‘berlapang dada’.
This appeal proved that UMNO-BN are afraid to face the people of Perak at the ballot box because they have something to hide.
john says
Umno is so afraid to face the people, even though PM Najib has said they are not afraid. Let the people decide once and for all and do not be power hungry. Everything will be settled once state elections are called. It will be a real example of People First, Performance Now.
mike says
Our PM has to rise above himself to give Perak back to the people …
Everyone makes mistakes ….he made that mistake and should let it be rectified
Give Perak back.
Gopal Rajkumar says
What must be understood by all, though it appears to have conveniently skipped the attention of even those who claim to be legal practitioners, is the fact that in this marriage of convenience of constitutional monarchy and elected parliament which is Malaysia (a unique constitutional monarchy considering the states and their monarchs), is an alliance fraught with contradiction.
What’s not understood by legal commentators is that in dismissing a Perak state government and their Mentri Besar, the Sultan of that State did have a legitimate ‘Discretion’ under the constitution to exercise which in the circumstances he did exercise.
It may have been an unpopular decision that resulted in the exercise of that discretion of his but it was a discretion nonetheless.
Arguments including those purportedly raised by a former Judge of the Malaysian High Court, appear to reveal an unwelcomed element of bias and personal morality that is unconstitutional when exercised or expressed in the way it has been by some.
It defeats the purpose of and the essence of secularity which is another bee in the bonnet of the ‘cafe chardonnay class’ of intellectuals who do not mind breaching the spirit of secularism when it suits them or the constitution when it gets in their way.
What’s perhaps more disturbing than the sacking of the Perak state government is the fact that a lack of independence or emotional detachment to matters of the law is evident right across the spectrum of the legal profession.
This is but one controversial incident that appears to have uncovered this tendency to bias in the Malaysian legal profession.
Kenny Gan says
Gopal Rajkumar,
The Perak constitution is clear that the sultan does not have the power to dismiss the MB.
Your rant about the sultan exercising his discretion only applies to dissolving the assembly or not.
In any case, the sultan must exercise his prerogative judiciously taking into account the ethical and moral characteristics of the situation and the prevailing sentiment of his subjects.
Your rant about bias and personal morality is misplaced as laws are not meant to be applied in a vacuum of robotic indifference.
Arthur Yeoh says
We see so much of all these – political turmoil, injustice, corruption, abuse of power, police brutality etc., it could fill up a long list if we were to name all. All these are the legacies left behind by one man.
In the Philippines, it’s Marcos; in Indonesia, it’s Suharto while in Malaysia – you know who………
elaine says
You think so? Aliran seems to be sleeping all this while. I totally agree with raguel that only and only Najib can resolve the Perak crisis for he started it, only he has the answer to the exit.