KUALA LUMPUR, 11 May 2009: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak described the High Court decision on the Perak Menteri Besar issue today, which did not favour Umno and the Barisan Nasional (BN), as not the end of the road for the party.
Najib, who is also the Umno president, said this was because there was still room for the party to think of appropriate measures to tackle the problem.
“This is not the end of the road. There is still room to think of appropriate action. My colleagues in the supreme council (MT) and I will think deeply on what is the best for Umno and the BN that we love,” he said at the 63rd Umno anniversary celebration at the Putra World Trade Centre, here tonight.
He said the court decision, which had dampened the celebratory mood of the anniversary, was not the first upset for Umno. As a political party, it had gone through numerous challenges throughout its history including several court decisions that did not favour the party.
“In the history of Umno, we have been slapped with a court decision that banned the party, but we rose again with Umno Baru and I believe the same spirit must be with us (in facing the political crisis in Perak),” he said.
The Kuala Lumpur High Court today declared Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin from the Pakatan Rakyat coalition as the legitimate Perak Menteri Besar as there had been no vacancy in the post and no vote of no-confidence passed against him at the state assembly sitting. With this decision, BN-installed Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir has to make way for Nizar.
Describing the court decision as a dampener on the Umno anniversary celebration, Najib however was happy to see that the Merdeka Hall was filled with Umno and BN supporters including the presence of former Umno president and prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali.
“This is our family and on the strength of this family, we will draw up our plans, we will not be disheartened. We know that we have to shoulder the people’s trust and will not neglect the deeds contributed by the past leaders.
“They are hoping for us to continue the Umno struggle. InsyAllah, we will not only continue (the struggle), but take Umno to greater heights,” he said.
Earlier, Najib and Umno members performed the maghrib and isyak prayers and read the ‘Yaasin’, before delivering his message followed by the cutting of the ‘pulut kuning’ or yellow glutinous rice in conjunction with the Umno anniversary.
Also present were former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, the three Umno vice-presidents Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal and Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, heads of the Umno wings and leaders of the BN component parties.
However, former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Zambry did not attend the anniversary celebrations. — Bernama
Krishna says
Things are definitely not going well for the Prime Minister. He should now show his statesmanship and move on. Let the people of Perak decide. The judge made a very logical decision in not allowing a stay of execution. When you rule the present government is illegal, you cannot allow it to continue. They can only appeal against the decision. By the time they exhaust the legal processes, YAB Nizar would have sought the dissolution of the assembly and there will be no turning back. Umno and Umno-putras will be committing derhaka if they challenge the Sultan’s decision to allow the dissolution of the assembly. What poetic justice I must say!
Ganesan, please return the Speaker’s uniform immediately. If you wear it, you can be arrested for impersonation. Do not even think of calling for an assembly sitting. You better go back to Sungkai and do whatever you were doing before these inglorious dark days since May 7.
Yong says
Mr PM, there is no more Umno of the TAR time. Umno Baru is just about 20 years old and how can Umno Baru members always says they are celebrating its 63rd anniversary? Bapa TAR, Tun Razak and Tun Hussein Onn the three PMs never joined MM’s Umno Baru because they knew that it would become a police state in MM and your time. BN only respects the constitution when it suits them even though most rakyat do not agree. So do not always fool the rakyat that Umno Baru is 63 – it actually is about 20. God guide and bless Malaysia with more honest MPs.
Eurokopter says
Well Najib, there’s no need to find the solution. In this matter please don’t decide on the people’s behalf. Let the Perak voters decide … Nizar is better at finding the solution. He is gentlemanly enough and has the guts to let the people decide as his seat is also at stake.
raguel says
Who can arrange an instant appeal by three judges – what brand and make of justice do we have?
shamsul says
This is definitely the end of the road for the legal thugs.
K S Ong says
The “appropriate action” seems to be the inappropriately swift Court of Appeal’s (one judge?) stay of execution.
What MT wants MT gets, get it?
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