Thesun 2009-02-06 Page04 Bar Council Respect Sultans Decision

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| FRIDAY FEBRUARY 6 2009

Nizar surprises all by showing up at event BAGAN SERAI: Amid tensions between Pakatan Rakyat (PR) and Barisan Nasional (BN) over the Perak state assembly turmoil, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin surprised a morning function yesterday by showing up with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. The two leaders from opposing coalitions were the centre of attention as they smiled and chatted with each other during the launch of Sime Darby Bhd’s new rice farm here. Not missing on the peculiar timing of their presence together, Sime Darby chairman Tun Musa Hitam good-humouredly acknowledged Nizar in his opening remarks, quipping that he was “still the mentri besar”. This prompted laughter and applause from the audience, as Nizar smiled and waved. Abdullah chipped in: “There is good news coming from Perak.” The interaction between the two remained cordial until Nizar had to rush off at about 11.30am, telling reporters that he had been summoned by the Perak Sultan.

It’s a warning to PR, says Taib Mahmud KUCHING: The political imbroglio that broke out in Perak is a warning to Pakatan Rakyat (PR) which previously was very ambitious to form a government at the federal level, Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said yesterday. He said the collapse of the PR Perak government should serve as a lesson for the three-party alliance with regard to their desire to set up a new federal government by claiming a number of Barisan Nasional (BN) representives would cross over. “Don’t start this form of political hijacking. It is a lesson for PR. They are bearing the brunt of this,” said Taib who is Sarawak BN chairman. – Bernama

PKR to hold special congress on Feb 28 KOTA KINABALU: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) will hold a special congress on Feb 28 to reform its structure. Its treasurer-general William Leong said during the congress the party would amend its constitution to cater to the effects of the political tsunami which began in the 12th general election. Speaking during his visit yesterday, Leong, who is also Selayang MP, said PKR’s grassroots programmes would include explaining wealth distribution to the people, instead of wealth creation. – Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR: The Bar Council yesterday called on the Perak government to abide by the decision of the Perak Sultan for Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin and the state executive council members to resign from their posts. Its president Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan said she was convinced Sultan Azlan Shah had made the decision guided by the law and therefore, the decision should not be questioned. “The question now is whether the mentri besar has the majority in the state assembly to govern the state,” she told reporters after the presentation of the Certificate in Legal Practice to the recipients by the Raja Muda of Perak, Raja Dr Nazrin Shah, at the Putra World Trade Centre yesterday. Mohammad Nizar has refused to step down as mentri besar as ordered by Sultan Azlan Shah as he believes that he still legally holds the post under the Perak state Constitution. On the validity of the resignation letters purportedly sent by the two Pakatan Rakyat assemblymen (Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi and Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu), Ambiga said the matter could be brought to court. Based on the court’s decision, she added, the Election Commission could

Bar Council: Respect Sultan’s decision decide whether to call for by-elections in the two state constituencies (Behrang and Changkat Jering). In KOTA BARU, Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat said he respects the decision of the Sultan of Perak not to dissolve the state assembly and asking his mentri besar to resign, as His Highness has the right and power to do so. However, he said what needed to be looked into and questioned was what transpired that led to the decision by the Sultan. “I don’t question the decision of the Sultan of Perak in not consenting to the dissolution of the state assembly although the Pakatan Rakyat

government under the mentri besar had sought an audience to get his consent as it was the Sultan’s right. “It’s just that we (Pakatan Rakyat) must question and study why the Perak assemblymen had defected and caused the political situation in Perak to become chaotic. There must be something that’s not right and planned by certain quarters,” he said when met by Bernama at his residence in Kampung Pulau Melaka, near here yesterday. In KUALA LUMPUR, Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek said Nizar’s refusal to resign from his post as ordered by the Sultan of Perak can be considered an act of treason.

“We have a ruler and the country is practising the constitutional monarchy system not only at the federal level but also state level. “The sovereignty of a state rests on the rulers. As such, it is befitting and a must and the onus should be on us to obey and uphold the order of our rulers. “So, it is proper for us not to disobey (the order), otherwise it will be misconstrued as breaching (the law) or disobedient, thus committing an act of treason to the Sultan,” he told reporters after opening the prescreening of a documentary, Europe through the Eyes of Malaysians here yesterday. – Bernama

Razaleigh: Polls sole source of govt’s authority by Giam Say Khoon [email protected]

PETALING JAYA: Umno’s Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah warns that the people will be angry if the Perak state assembly is not dissolved for the people to elect a new government. In his blog (razaleigh.com) yesterday, Razaleigh said defections cannot be the basis for the formation of a government. “Governments are formed after citizens have expressed their choice through free and fair elections. Our Constitution specifies a formal process for the formation of a government. The Ruler is sworn to uphold and protect this constitutional process,” he said. The former finance minister and former Umno vice-president said ethical failures “are the core of our political problems and Umno is in critical condition”. “Our biggest challenge, both as a party and as the ruling party, is to tackle corruption at every level. We are under close public scrutiny in addressing this problem. Unless we implement radical reforms and are seen to be doing so, we are finished politically come next election.

“Instead, we are now seen to be ‘winning back’ Perak with the crossover of exactly the kind of low-calibre individuals, as one commentator put it, who we should shun,” he said. Razaleigh said the circumstances of the defections, complete with mysterious disappearances, sudden reversals, and implausible explanations, showed ample signs of illegal inducement. “No matter what the truth of the matter, let us not fool ourselves. People will not believe that these crossovers were honest and the mistrust will taint any government formed on the back of crossovers. “Elections are the sole source of the government’s authority in a democratic society,” he stressed. Razaleigh added that if the Ruler decides not to accede to the mentri besar’s request for the dissolution of the state assembly and “Barisan Nasional (BN) is invited to form a state government on the basis of defections, what more dubious ones, I think it would anger a large section of the Malaysian public”. He said Umno’s taking control without resorting to elections would cement the enmity of the very people

it should be trying to win back at the next general election. “Come next general election, they are likely to reject both our state and parliamentary candidates with greater vehemence, and not just in Perak. BN should reform to improve its ability to serve with distinction. This is a longterm project that requires immediate focus. We do not need the distraction of transient, shaky victories when our task is to upgrade ourselves to win elections again, fair and square. “The is the only sustainable way to win the public back to BN,” he said. What others say:

» Aliran president P. Ramakrishnan If the majority of three was insufficient to guarantee the stability of the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) state government, how could the same majority of three ensure the stability for BN government? This uncertainty caused by a slim majority will continue to haunt and hound whoever is in charge of the state government henceforth. The present impasse can only be settled by referring this grave matter to the

people. Let them decide who should govern the state, let them choose their government through the democratic process.

» Nutgraph columnist and

political analyst Wong Chin Huat A snap poll is the best way to end the existing instability and allow the new government to get on with business. A snap poll called in this circumstance is almost certain to return a stronger government, whether it is Pakatan Rakyat or the BN. Going for flash elections would therefore kill the incentive for more defections.