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Stop the illegality in Perak (Updated 6pm)

By Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah

March 4, 2009

THE Barisan Nasional (BN)’s takeover of Perak has set off a chain reaction of illegality which has left Perak quite possibly without a legitimate government. One of our most prosperous states has been reduced to a failed state.

One lie leads to many lies. Each bad action leads to a cascade of follies, particularly when the lie or violation concerns something very basic. This is a principle we teach our children. It is a simple but universal truth now being demonstrated in Perak.

With each violation the sense of decency and restraint and the habits that bind us to the constitution are loosened. The confidence in the rule of law that makes civilised life possible is diminished.

Laws are invisible things. They exist only when they are understood and observed. When the government of the day ignores foundational principles such as the separation of powers, the constitution becomes a dead piece of paper.

But the constitution is not just any law. It is the set of laws that founds our nation, defines its basic principles, guarantees our individual rights and prescribes the structures, duties, and powers which make a national community possible. It is the foundation and source of the legal authority underlying the existence of Malaysia.

Those who so blithely ignore the constitution for political ends are quite literally wrecking the foundations of this country to further their own interests.

This must stop.

The constitutional situation in Perak gets murkier by the day, with egos and reputations entrenched in hopeless positions. There is a simple and graceful way to clarify the situation definitively: return to the sole source of legitimate government, the will of the people as expressed through free and fair elections. BN might wish to show some magnanimity and confidence in calling for this.

Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah 
Kuala Lumpur 
4 March 2009

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Filed Under: Letters to the Editor Tagged With: Barisan Nasional, BN, Constitution, crossovers, failed state, foundation, Malaysia, Perak, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, Umno

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. penangite says

    March 4, 2009 at 4:06 pm

    Ku Li speaks out from the heart. I can see and feel the smile from his true heart. One lie will lead to many more and our mainstream newspapers, The Star and others continue to support the process of diminishing confidence of all Malaysians on the current situation in Perak by their continuing indifference. Thank you to The Nut Graph, and the many thoughtful and informative articles that we see here.

  2. CW Wong says

    March 4, 2009 at 8:56 pm

    The Rakyat have had enough. Ku Li is right. His last sentence appeals to the conscience of the BN leadership. I harbour no hate towards BN but its misdemeanour reeks of foulness so repulsive that it would be hard to find a favourable bystander for days to come.

  3. kip says

    March 4, 2009 at 11:01 pm

    Would it be too much to ask if Ku Li were to resign to join the PR and call for a by-election?

    It would really bash some common sense into those thick-skulled heads in BN. They need some reality in order to understand that certain things cannot be fooled around with.

    Come on, the constitution is the strongest pillar in the country. Now the government of the day is mocking it. How am I supposed to believe that “the government” is truly to serve the citizens of Malaysia and not a handful of VVIPs?

  4. fellow malaysian says

    March 4, 2009 at 11:38 pm

    The situation in Perak is a farce and will show the world that Malaysia is a laughing stock amongst the international community. Ku Li spoke about the future that awaits Malaysia if this were to persist long enough.

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