Chedet admitted that BN will loose Perak snap elections

PUTRAJAYA, May 14 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today admitted the Pakatan Rakyat will sweep Perak if fresh elections are called but recommended the state assembly meets to decide on the mentri besar post.

"It’s not good for the world to see the musical chairs in Perak where the MB is changing because of the decision of the courts," Dr Mahathir said.

When asked if the current impasse in Perak would affect the ruling Barisan Nasional's chances in the next elections, he said: "I hope people will have short memories."

“The outcome is a foregone conclusion” said Dr Mahathir if fresh elections are held, adding that it was his feeling after the by-election in Bukit Gantang and from talking to people.

“So why should we have fresh elections ?“ he asked, saying that it was costly and that he did not agreed will calls by other BN leaders for fresh state elections.

He added that the people had already voted and chosen people who are willing to defect.

He said the situation should be resolved by a vote in the Perak state assembly and the assemblymen should determined who should form the government.

“If BN really has a majority they can move a motion of no confidence and set up another government.”

The former prime minister said he would hold his opinion on whether V. Sivakumar was legitimately removed as speaker in deference to the courts.

He also refused to comment if the debacle in Perak would have a lasting negative impact on Barisan Nasional and affect the outcome in the next general election.

Dr Mahathir added that he supported the move by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to hold negotiations with Pakatan to resolve the crisis.

He said anything which can resolve the problem is good.

Dr Mahathir was speaking to the Press today after a special talk on “Malaysia-Today’s Knowledge Economy”.

During the talk, he said the future can be determined by trends and no crystal ball was needed to predict the future.

However, he refused to answer when asked if he was positive about the future of BN and Umno based on current trends.

“I beg not to reply to that question. It’s just my private opinion and I’ll keep it to myself. (TMI)

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Ku Li - The courts cannot solve Perak crisis

KUALA LUMPUR — The Perak crisis is a tragic comedy of errors and bad political judgement that reflects a failure of political leadership. As it continues to spin out of control, it damages our democratic system of governance.

For all intents and purposes, one of our most prosperous and developed states has been reduced to a failed state, with a possibly illegal state government in place. This is a condition that can propagate outwards to the rest of the country.

I stated at the beginning of this crisis that by our Constitution, a change of government can only be brought about by democratic means, which is to say, through the ballot box or through a formal vote of confidence in the elected Legislative Assembly.

These are the constitutionally mandated means by which the people decide on their government. Any other means of changing the government is unconstitutional and undemocratic, and subverts the basis upon which we are a civilised society.

We now have reason to fear the loss of the people’s confidence in the Constitution, in democracy and in our constitutional monarchy.

Responsible political leadership must support rather than destroy the confidence of the people in these practices and institutions. In particular, powers reserved for the Legislative Assembly, which represents the sovereign will of the people, cannot be taken away under any circumstances by anyone.

This foundational constitutional principle has been affirmed by the Court. We are all sworn to uphold it. Those who do not understand or accept this principle have no place in government.

Some issues can be solved by a court of law, but the Perak crisis is not one of them. The back and forth events of the past week demonstrate this fact abundantly.

The Perak crisis cannot be solved by a decision of the Court because it is at heart a political rather than a constitutional problem. There is really no doubt about what the Constitution says.

What is now unclear as a result of an ugly series of manoeuvres is whether Perak has a legitimate government, and there is only one way to resolve that issue.

Perhaps our political leadership has not understood how important it is that the people’s voice must prevail, and be seen to prevail, in the choice of their government.

The only solution to the Perak crisis now is for the State Legislative Assembly to be dissolved and free and fair elections held. At this stage there is no other way to restore both public confidence and constitutional legality to the Perak state government, and by extension to our entire system of government.

Our survival as a democratic and constitutional monarchy depends on our acceptance of the judgment of the people as expressed in free and fair elections. Any attempt to circumvent that judgement betrays the basic principles and values upon which our nation and incidentally, UMNO itself, stand.

I appeal for wisdom and a broader concern for the wellbeing of our country.

Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah

Member of Parliament, Gua Musang

Courtesy of The MalaysianInsider

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Nizar report to work but forced to pray outside

A prayer before beginning entering the state secretariat this morning in Ipoh, MB Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin starting his day with his followers. - Reuters pic

By Shannon Teoh

IPOH — At 7.34am today, Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin arrived at the State Secretariat building here to report for work, almost four months after he was forced to vacate his mentri besar office here.

In sharp contrast to the war zone scenario outside the same building last Thursday, everything was calm and orderly this morning despite heavy police presence.

The entrance to the building is now blocked by FRU barriers and one side of the road in front is closed to traffic.

By the time Nizar arrived, most of his exco were already there. He walked to the entrance, led some prayers outside and then went inside.

Pakatan Rakyat Speaker V. Sivakumar was also there.

About 10 minutes later, Nizar left the building after clocking in as mentri besar, a ruling made by the Kuala Lumpur High Court yesterday.

His next appointment is with the Perak Regent, Raja Nazrin Shah. (tmi)

In another glaring example of what’s wrong with Malaysia under Prime Minister Najib Razak, Perak police continued to act as guardians of the political interests of his Umno-BN, rather than as safe-keepers of the rakyat or maintainers of the law.

On Tuesday morning, Pakatan Rakyat leaders including Menteri Besar Nizar Jamaluddin were initially denied entry into the state secretariat complex, although the High Court had a day ago declared Nizar the rightful chief minister.

While cars of other civil service employees were freely allowed into the Perak Darul Ridwan building, Nizar and his exco team were made to enter on foot!

As Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim rightly stressed on Monday, the separation of powers between the executive, the judiciary and legislative must be clearly defined and all parties especially the federal apparatus, such as the police, the civil service and the courts, must behave professionally at all times.

Nevertheless, in a show of goodwill, the ever-resilient Nizar did not protest the shabby treatment meted out to him and his executive councillors. But before entering - to offer thanks and to seek blessings for a safe outcome - he and team held prayers by the roadside. (SK)

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