IT is a cardinal rule in the game of musical chairs that once someone has occupied a seat, no one else can validly sit in it. The Federal Court however, appears to think otherwise in declaring the Barisan Nasional (BN)’s Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir the rightful Perak Menteri Besar. This is despite the […]
Nizar
Kota Siputeh: Testing the courts
EC chairperson Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof THE nationwide constitutional law tutorial continues with the latest Kota Siputeh case. The court has had to intervene once again to arbitrate between the speaker of a legislative assembly and the Election Commission (EC). This time, the 16 Nov 2009 High Court decision ruled that the EC […]
The big deal about a full bench
Getting the full 11-member bench to hear the case is atall order A FULL bench of judges to hear appeals at the federal court has never been granted in Malaysia’s judicial history, lawyers recall. Some say this is not surprising. For administrative, procedural or logistical reasons, having all judges of the highest court available at […]
Perak’s tarnished state
SAME circus, different act. The dramatic highlight of the Perak legislative assembly sitting on 7 May 2009 was the violent removal of Speaker V Sivakumar by police officers. The highlight of Wednesday’s 28 Oct sitting was the simultaneous running of two separate assemblies under the same roof. Was anything achieved? Sure, Barisan Nasional (BN) passed […]
Whither Perak?
Pakatan Rakyat Speaker V Sivakumar (left) and Barisan Nasional Speaker R Ganesan THE Perak Pakatan Rakyat (PR)’s persistence in not legitimising the Barisan Nasional (BN) state government draws either admiration or irritation. In part, it’s a difference of opinion that reflects political alignments. The BN-aligned depict such resilience as “buat kecoh”. This was aptly described […]
PAS maintains tradition of ulama leadership
SHAH ALAM, 6 June 2009: Nasharudin Mat Isa retained the post of PAS deputy president and Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man won one of the three posts of vice-president as the party maintained its tradition of electing “ulama” (Islamic scholars) to its top posts. Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, also an ulama, had been returned […]
Invoke Judges’ Code of Ethics
JUSTICE is becoming a rare commodity in our courts when judges of questionable ability sit in judgment. This situation raises serious concerns regarding the appointment of judges and their elevation to the bench. In the recent cases involving the Perak crisis we wonder whether the Federal Court judges and the Court of Appeal judges who […]
PKR’s campaign homophobia
The audience at the Jalan Berapit ceramah “THE Barisan Nasional (BN) should change its name to Barisan Pondan (faggot)!” bellows Penang Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) chief Datuk Zahrain Mohamed Hashim to the 5,000-strong crowd in Jalan Berapit on 23 May 2009. The audience applauds the Bayan Baru MP, and emboldened, he goes on to […]
Underneath the hot Penanti sky
IT was a hot, humid morning in Penanti on nomination day, 23 May 2009. It could have been the heat, or the Barisan Nasional (BN)’s absence, that made proceedings a tad more subdued compared to the tri-elections of 7 April. Nevertheless, a 1,000-strong crowd turned up to support the Pakatan Rakyat (PR)’s candidate, Dr Mansor […]
BN acted within the law in Perak MB case (Updated)
Updated 8.49pm, 22 May 2009 SINGAPORE, 22 May 2009: Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the Court of Appeal ruling in Putrajaya today declaring Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir as the rightful menteri besar of Perak proved that the Barisan Nasional (BN) had acted within the law in the matter. Expressing satisfaction […]
