TV PAKATAN RAKYAT

While Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders are saying yesterday’s Perak state assembly sitting held under a tree has made Malaysia a laughing stock, a court order served on the Speaker today suggests it may well have been valid. And if it is valid, that would mean the three motions approved hurriedly by the sweaty state assemblymen while standing by a roadside in Ipoh is also legally binding.

The document served on Sivakumar today reads: “It is hereby ordered that the 1st defendant YB Sivakumar a/l Varatharaju Naidu is restraint from convening any unlawful meetings purporting it to be a meeting of the Perak State Legislative Assembly.” Legal experts say a court order has no retrospective effect and as such the question of whether yesterday’s “under the tree assembly” is valid is still unanswered. BN lawyers may need to seek further relief from the courts to have the “under the tree assembly” declared invalid.

But that will stretch to the limit the question of whether it can be considered a judicial review of assembly proceedings, which is not allowed under the federal constitution. A more significant poser are the three motions approved by the “under the tree assembly”. And probably the most significant of the three is the endorsement of Sivakumar’s decision earlier to suspend de facto Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir and his executive council members from the assembly for between 12 and 18 months.

Perak stands on the verge of an administrative breakdown tonight as the state’s executive and legislature appeared locked in battle for control of the state. Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, the mentri besar of the de facto Barisan Nasional (BN) government, has declared an attempt to hold an emergency sitting of the state assembly a “threat to national security.” “If anyone is involved in tomorrow’s assembly, the government will not compromise with anyone who threatens national security,” he said.

Perak Speaker V Sivakumar has called for an emergency sitting of the state assembly tomorrow where a vote is likely to declare support for the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) government of Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin and call for the state legislature to be dissolved. Zambry claims that the emergency sitting is illegal without the consent of the Sultan. He cited Articles 8, 11 and 36 of the state constitution. However, a check with the Perak constitution confirms that Articles 8 and 11 cited by Zambry were not related whatsoever with what he argued.

Articles 8 and 11 are in relation to the state seal, and the executive action of the authority being conducted in the Sultan’s name, respectively. Article 36 says, among other things, that “His Royal Highness shall from time to time summon the legislative assembly and shall not allow six months to elapse between the last sitting in one session and the date appointed for its first sitting in the next session.” However lawyers representing the Speaker are arguing that the last sitting of the assembly had only been adjourned sine die, or indefinitely. Therefore, the emergency sitting would only be a continuation of the last sitting.

Meanwhile, Speaker Sivakumar also said tonight that he will be suspending assembly secretary Abdullah Antong Sabri and has appointed Nizar’s political secretary, Misbahul Munir Masduki, as replacement. The Speaker said Abdullah had failed to exercise his duties impartially when the latter claimed that the emergency sitting would be invalid without royal consent.

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Standing up for family and friends caught in the eye of a storm is easier said than done. The first instinct is usually to take cover until the storm clouds disperse. But playing it safe is not part of Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah's DNA. He left his comfort zone yesterday to defend the actions of the Sultan of Perak and take on those who challenged the validity of the latter's decision asking Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin and the Pakatan Rakyat government to stand down. He was willing to stand up for his brethren, and chastise those who displayed rudeness to Sultan Azlan Shah.

Bravo. Really that was the only high point of his statement released to Bernama. With due respect, the rest of it may not add much clarity to the political crisis in Perak and its fallout. The underlying principle in the statement appeared to be that the actions of the Sultan of Perak (and by extension of all the Rulers) were beyond reproach and the royal household was almost infallible.

But Malaysia is not an absolute monarchy but a constitutional monarchy. If it were an absolute monarchy, then Sultan Azlan Shah or any Malay Ruler would have complete power over all aspects of life in the state. In an absolute monarchy there is no constitution or legal restriction on the monarch's power. But in a constitutional monarchy like Malaysia, the power of the Sultan is restrained by a parliament, by law, or by custom. In short, his decisions can be questioned and challenged. More so after 1993 when the constitution was amended by the Mahathir administration to remove the immunity Malay Rulers enjoyed from legal action. The Sultan of Perak stirred the pot last week when he refused to call fresh polls after three defectors left the Pakatan Rakyat government. He instead installed a new Barisan Nasional government that claimed to have a new majority in the state assembly.

While Barisan Nasional may yet pay at the ballot box over its ruthless power grab in Perak, its aggressive foray has put Pakatan Rakyat on the ropes, with its parties mulling an uncertain future and the possibility of a powerful enemy it could do without — the Malay Rulers. Beyond the prospect of dealing with a resurgent BN and Umno, adept at using the advantages that come with being in power, the PR parties of Pas, PKR and DAP will now have to tread very carefully in dealing with the royalty.

Yesterday, Selangor's Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah made it quite clear in a public statement that he was unhappy with what he perceived to be the rudeness shown against his uncle Sultan Azlan Shah over the latter's role in the Perak political impasse. The Selangor Ruler, in his remarks, appeared to suggest that the institution of the Malay Rulers should not be challenged or threatened in any way. "That is why it was important we did not name the Sultan in our suit," a senior Pakatan Rakyat leader told The Malaysian Insider. "Tactically that would have been disastrous." That was also why PR leaders have been trying to rein in Karpal Singh, the Jelutong MP and one of the country's most feisty lawyers, who has argued for taking Sultan Azlan Shah to court.

Karpal has become the focal point of pro-royalty protests organised by Umno in an attempt to whip up support for a party which had been rudderless and directionless since last year's poor electoral performance. Just weeks before officially taking power as party president and prime minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak is hoping to unite Umno in a common cause against a common enemy. Now, with two by-elections to be contested, the results of which will be significant in determining Malaysia's future political direction, BN and Umno leaders will be glad that PR leaders have the added burden of trying not to further aggravate its ties with the royalty.

If the Barisan Nasional and the Perak royal household had any lingering doubts about negative public sentiment towards the change of the state government, here is a message: doubt no more. A survey of registered voters in Perak on Feb 8 showed that:

• 74 per cent of the respondents feel that the state assembly should have been dissolved after the defection of the three Pakatan Rakyat lawmakers

• 76 per cent of the respondents felt that the "people, through elections, should decide on who forms the government"

• 62 per cent of the respondents felt that the "role of the palace in this decision" means it does not recognise the will of the people

• 66 per cent of the respondents do not accept state governments formed through the defection of state assemblymen

• 59 per cent of the respondents feel that the political crisis in Perak would decrease support for Barisan Nasional.

Taken together, the poll by the Merdeka Centre suggests that Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir and the BN may occupy the seat of government but a significant number of Perakians may not accept their legitimacy to hold power. The political crisis unfolded in Perak when three Pakatan Rakyat legislators became independents and said that they would back the BN. This wiped away the three-seat majority which enabled Pakatan Rakyat to rule the state since March last year.

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IPOH, Feb 9 - Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin will travel the length and breadth of Perak to hold a series of ceramah to convince the people he is still the legitimate menteri besar. The Pakatan Rakyat (PR) alliance has also decided against naming Sultan Azlan Shah in a legal suit it is planning, as it attempts to deflect attacks from Barisan Nasional (BN) over the question of loyalty to the state’s ruler. The plan was announced before 8,000 Pakatan Rakyat (PR) supporters at the official MB’s residence late Sunday night, where it is making its last stand against BN’s claim to power in the state.

While PR delays what must certainly be the inevitable handover of government to BN, the two coalitions are fighting a larger battle for the hearts and minds of the public. BN has tried to assert that PR are committing treason by refusing to comply with Sultan Azlan Shah’s wishes. But with its continued insistence that the mainstream media is under the control of BN, the series of public speeches by Nizar will see PR trying to make added gains in the court of public opinion which already appears to be leaning heavily in its favour.

If the night’s speeches by Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, DAP vice president Tan Seng Giaw and Nizar are anything to go by, the roadshow will likely centre around the legitimacy of Nizar’s claim and the assertion that Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had robbed the rights of the people by masterminding a “coup d’etat.” Speaking to the multiracial, but largely Pas-supporting crowd, Nizar said the undemocratic manner in which Najib had forced the overthrow of his administration had turned Malaysia into a laughing stock.

“We will take back the right stolen by Najib Altantuya,” Nizar said of a snap poll which PR is pushing for, referring to Najib’s continued links to the murder of the Mongolian model Altantuya Shariibuu. Cries of “Allahuakbar” and “Reformasi” went up on numerous occasions as the speakers stood on a balcony with a banner hung below them. “Daulat Tuanku, Rakyat Pohon Tuanku Bubarkan Dun Perak,” it said, reflecting the wishes of those gathered to have the state assembly dissolved.

Himpunan Rakyat Di Kediaman Rasmi MB Perak


Crowd gathers at Mentri Besar Mohd Nizar's residence to show support for Pakatan Rakyat (PKR, DAP and PAS). This is the early crowd. According to the news, the crowd grew significantly an hour later onwards. Awaiting PR leaders to give their speeches.

Mohd Nizar 'booted out' of MB's office


Perak Menteri Besar Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin today clocked in to work as usual at 10 am, along with his exco members, but 45 minutes later they were forced out of the state secretariat building. In that 45 minutes, Mohd Nizar's press conference was rudely interrupted twice by state secretary Abdul Rahman Hashim and Ipoh police chief Azisman Alias. Mohd Nizar refused to hold a meeting with Abdul Rahman and left with his convoy to his official residence where he is expected to hold a press conference later.

Kenyataan Anwar Ibrahim




Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, who also attended the press conference, appealed for calm, even as the opposition plans a major protest at the chief minister's residence later Thursday. "I would like to thank the Perak sultan for addressing this issue and I hope that this situation will not dissolve into violence and that the whole democratic process should be allowed to take its course," he said.

Perak turmoil: Battle moves to courtroom


Pakatan Rakyat will file a legal suit to challenge the appointment of Peraks new menteri besar Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir.Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim said that a team of lawyers would be looking into the laws pertaining to the appointment. "We are challenging his appointment today as we think it's invalid," he told a press conference at PKR headquarters in Tropicana Damansara this afternoon. In a strongly-worded statement issued later, the leaders of the opposition alliance also condemned Barisan Nasional's 'uncouth' manner in seizing control of the state. They also criticised the manner in which Pakatan Menteri Besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin was treated, including the confiscation of his belongings from the menteri besar's office.

PETANG KHAMIS INI - 5 hb FEB 2009

SEMUA SAF PEMIMPIN PAKATAN RAKYAT DARI SELURUH NEGARA
AKAN BERKUMPUL DI PERKARANGAN RUMAH MENTERI BESAR PERAK -IPOH

PADA JAM 3.00 PETANG - SEMUA BERKUMPUL

PADA JAM 7.00 MALAM - MUNAJAT 100 RIBU RAKYAT

PADA JAM 8.30 SEMUA AKAN MENYATAKAN SOKONGAN TERHADAP KERAJAAN PAKATAN DI PERAK

SEMUA WARGA DI JEMPUT DATANG





MAKLUMAT UNTUK SEMUA RAKYAT


SILA NYATAKAN SIKAP KITA KEPADA DYMM SULTAN PERAK

DENGAN MELAYARI LAMAN INI DAN TINGALKAN PESANAN DAN TANDA TANGAN:

http://books.dreambook.com/duli/duli.html