Perak gov't collapses - BN claims power

Dashken · Feb 4, 2009

Gone liao...

LIVE REPORTS

5.08pm: PERAK GOVERNMENT FALLS. Najib said at his press conference that the Barisan Nasional has the support of the four former Pakatan Perak assemblypersons - three will be "BN-friendly" Independents, while Nasarudin will rejoin Umno.

Najib will meet the Perak Sultan as soon as possible. He said it is up to the sultan to decide on Nizar's request for dissolution of the assembly.

At the same venue, Nasarudin denied the claim that he had been abducted.

5.05pm: Mohd Nizar is still at Istana Kinta.

4.28pm: Bota representative Nasarudin Hashim is also learnt to be at the DPM's office, waiting to be introduced to the media by Najib.

With Nasarudin's re-defection, BN and its independent allies now have 31 seats against Pakatan Rakyat's 28.

4.25pm Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi, Osman Jailu and Hee Yit Foong are present at the DPM's office. It is believed that Najib will announce their entry into BN at his press conference.

4pm: DPM Najib Abdul Razak expected to begin his press conference in Putrajaya soon.

3.50pm: Perak Menteri Besar Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin has gone into Istana Kinta to meet with Sultan Azlan Shah.
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Dashken · Feb 4, 2009

Let's pray...

LIVE REPORTS

5.50pm: Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim accuses BN of trying to form government in Perak 'by hook or by crook'.

"We are pushing for a dissolution of the state assembly and fresh elections in the state. We must go back to the people and get a fresh mandate," he tells AFP.

"BN is trying to form the state government by hook or by crook - more by crook."

5.35pm: Mohd Nizar leaves the palace after meeting Sultan Azlan Shah. He tells reporters that he has informed the sultan of his request to dissolve the state assembly.

"It is now up to Tuanku (his highness)," he adds with a smile. The meeting lasted almost two hours.

5.08pm: 'PERAK GOVERNMENT FALLS'. Najib tells a press conference that Barisan Nasional has the support of the four former Pakatan Perak assemblypersons - three will be "BN-friendly" Independents, while Nasarudin will rejoin Umno.

Najib will meet the Perak Sultan as soon as possible. He says it is up to the sultan to decide on Nizar's request for dissolution of the assembly.

"All three state representatives - Jamaluddin, Osman and Hee - have submitted resignation letters to their former parties and have informed the sultan of their resignation.

"They have also given BN the mandate to select a new menteri besar for Perak."

Nasarudin denies the claim that he has been abducted.

Najib adds that under Article 16(6) of the Perak constitution, if the menteri besar loses the confidence of the assembly members, he is required to resign, together with all the exco members under him.

However the final decision now hinges on the Sultan of Perak - if he accedes to a Pakatan request for dissolution or allows BN to form the new government.

5.05pm: Mohd Nizar is still at Istana Kinta.
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Adrian Wong · Feb 4, 2009

OMG... The fvking bastards!!!

I hope the Sultan dissolves the state assembly and calls for general elections. Let the people's voice be heard!!!!!

The_YongGrand · Feb 4, 2009

Damn, damn, damn, those idiots did it again!

Looks like they are extremely desperate. Let's hope for a fair play.

Adrian Wong · Feb 4, 2009

The_YongGrand said: ↑

Damn, damn, damn, those idiots did it again!

Looks like they are extremely desperate. Let's hope for a fair play.
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Fair play is the last thing you can expect from UMNO.

Brian · Feb 5, 2009

I think it's a good thing. At least once the economic storm blows into Malaysia (not seen the full power yet, at least in Malaysia), BN will get most of the blame, for playing politics while a recession loomed. 2013's elections may turn out to be a much better result for the opposition than I had hoped, if the global financial crisis continues blowing up further.

Also, it's always fun to watch the PKR guys who were justifying people hopping over to their party suddenly demand the rakyat get their say when members of their party hop over to BN instead. Comeuppance?

Adrian Wong · Feb 5, 2009

Brian said: ↑

I think it's a good thing. At least once the economic storm blows into Malaysia (not seen the full power yet, at least in Malaysia), BN will get most of the blame, for playing politics while a recession loomed. 2013's elections may turn out to be a much better result for the opposition than I had hoped, if the global financial crisis continues blowing up further.

Also, it's always fun to watch the PKR guys who were justifying people hopping over to their party suddenly demand the rakyat get their say when members of their party hop over to BN instead. Comeuppance?
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Have to admit that Anwar had THAT coming, with all the talk of BN folks crossing the line. Now that this has happened, maybe the Pakatan Rakyat fellas will learn to walk softly but carry a DAMN BIG STICK.

They must remember that if they can turn some BN politicians with promises, BN can do the same, albeit with cold hard cash instead of just promises.

They also expanded way too fast. Instead of taking the time to ensure that their candidates are truly in the fight for the right reasons, they tried to field as many people as they could. This led to the election of folks of truly dubious characters.

If the Sultan refuses to call for general elections, then the PR's best chance of success is to work in the remaining states and wait for the people to oust the federal government in the next general elections. What else can we do? UMNO and their cohorts will be free to rape the country until the next elections.

Dashken · Feb 5, 2009

It's finished!

Power transfer: MB told to 'step down'
Feb 5, 09 10:25am

LIVE REPORTS

2.27pm: Bernama reports that the Sultan of Perak has rejected the request by Mohd Nizar for the dissolution of the state assembly. The report also said that the sultan has asked Mohd Nizar to step down to pave the way for a power transfer.

2.14pm: Tonight's 100,000 people gathering in support of the Pakatan government has been shifted to Stadium Ipoh from the menteri besar's official residence.

The police have issued warnings against those who take part in "illegal gatherings" in Ipoh.

2pm: Anwar arrives at Mohd Nizar's house. He is expected to hold a press conference together the menteri besar and Penang CM Lim Guan Eng at 3pm. PKR vice-president Azmin Ali is also there.

1.32pm: A PKR source says that the sultan had asked Mohd Nizar to step down as menteri besar to allow a smooth transistion of power at their brief meeting today but the latter had refused to do so.

1.30pm: Najib just ended his Perak Umno meeting and left the party's state headquarters without calling a press conference. It is learnt there was a discussion on who to be appointed as new menteri besar.

1.25pm: Najib is still at the Umno meeting. However, it is learnt that he will not be holding a press conference after the meeting.

1.05pm: Perak MB Mohd Nizar leaves the palace. He waved and smiled at reporters. He just said: "Good signs. Alhamdulliah." His meeting with the sultan lasted 15 minutes. He had entered the palace at 12.50pm.

Mohd Nizar will be holding a press conference along with Pakatan leader Anwar Ibrahim and DAP leader Lim Guan Eng at 3pm.

12.50pm: Najib is presently chairing an Umno meeting in Ipoh where the choice of the new menteri besar is being discussed. He is expected to call for a press conference within the next hour.

12.40pm: There is an indication that Sultan Azlan Shah will allow Barisan Nasional to form a state government with the participation of three independents.

It is learnt that the sultan met with the four defectors at Istana Kinta this morning.

The four had accompanied Najib to the palace during the deputy prime minister's second visit to see the sultan. BN's 28 state representatives were also present.

At a brief press conference later, Najib said that all BN state assemblypersons and three Independents have given their undertaking to the sultan that they will back a Barisan-led government.

‘As such, we will leave it to the sultan to make his decision and we shall respect his decision,” he said.

When asked who would be BN’s choice for MB, Najib said that they would first wait for the sultan’s decision.

Menteri Besar Mohd Nizar is still in a meeting with sultan.

Earlier today

Sultan Azlan Shah met with Perak BN chief Najib Abdul Razak at the Istana Kinta in Ipoh this morning, and this was to be followed by another meeting with Perak Menteri Besar Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin.

Najib has informed the sultan of BN's strength in numbers in the state assembly that will allow the coalition to take over the control of the state from Pakatan Rakyat.

On the other hand, Mohd Nizar is advising the sultan to dissolve the state assembly to pave way for fresh elections in the state to resolve the political impasse.

Also present at the meeting with the deputy prime minister is Perak Umno deputy chief Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Najib and Ahmad Zahid arrived at the palace at 9.50am.

He left at 10.35am and returned about 20 minutes later with four former Pakatan assemblypersons who had pledged support for BN. The party left at 11.30am.

Meanwhile, Mohd Nizar is currently on his way to meet with the sultan. He left Bagan Serai at 11.30am where he was attending a function officiated by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

He told journalists there that he had been summoned by the sultan.

After the meeting with the sultan, Najib, who is also the Perak Umno chief, will be chairing a state Umno meeting. Top on the agenda would the choice of menteri besar to lead the BN government.

He had earlier cancelled a function in Putrajaya this morning to attend the meeting with the sultan.

Pakatan goes to court

Meanwhile, Perak state assembly speaker V Sivakumar has applied to the High Court to declare that undated resignations letters by former Pakatan representatives as valid.

The three - PKR's Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi and Osman Jailu, and DAP's Hee Yit Foong - have claimed that their quit letters signed soon after being elected as assemblypersons last March were done under duress.

The Election Commission has overruled the Perak speaker on the matter.

Yesterday Perak MB Mohd Nizar met the sultan for almost two hours to request for dissolution of the state assembly so that a snap state election could be held.

Mohd Nizar's meeting coincided with the defection of four Pakatan representatives to BN yesterday, severely altering the number of seats from Pakatan to BN.

The fate of the state government now hinges on the sultan. Political observers are waiting to see if he would allow BN to form the state government or will dissolve the state assembly.

Among the other developments taking place in Perak today:

Pakatan will be holding its council meeting in Ipoh later this afternoon. Pakatan leader Anwar Ibrahim and all other top guns from the alliance are expected to be present at the meeting.

A mammoth gathering is also being organised tonight outside the menteri besar's residence in support of the embattled Pakatan government. A crowd of about 100,000 is expected.

Anwar and other top Pakatan leaders are among the speakers at the rally, which is to begin at 7.30pm. Police chief Musa Hasan has warned that action will be taken against illegal gatherings in Ipoh.
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Dashken · Feb 5, 2009

Kedah feels defection heat

This is getting not very funny already...

Kedah feels defection heat
Syed Jaymal Zahiid, Jimadie Shah Othman and Abdul Rahim Sabri | Feb 5, 09 2:44pm

Following the political coup in neighbouring Perak, the Pakatan Rakyat-led state of Kedah is said to be on high alert.

It is learnt that several Pakatan state assemblypersons there have been categorised as 'high risk' and their movements are being closely monitored by the state leadership.
Allegations are rife that these 'high risk' reps have been approached by Barisan Nasional numerous times since last week in a bid to lure them to defect.

Pakatan currently holds an eight-seat majority in the state assembly after it wrested 22 seats against BN's 14 in the last general election.

When contacted, PKR Kedah Youth chief Saiful Izham confirmed that the leadership is in a precautionary mood and is currently monitoring their members.

"Yes we are monitoring our members but not to the extent of having them quarantined. Monitoring means we are constantly keeping in contact with them.

"We have been having several meetings with the leadership and members and so far all have attended," he said.

No 'missing' leaders

Fellow Pakatan leader, PAS Bukit Lada state assemblyperson Ahmad Izzat Shauki also claimed that BN has made several approaches but so far no Pakatan rep has accepted.

"We know BN is attempting to lure our members to defect since last year but we have declined.

"No one is missing so far. There was an event in Pokok Sena this morning and everyone, including the menteri besar and excos, were present," he said.

Sungai Petani PKR parliamentarian Johari Abdul also conceded that Kedah is on high alert after what transpired in Perak.

He alleged that various attempts have been made by BN to lure Pakatan reps to defect with offers of cash and powerful positions.

However, Padang Serai PKR parliamentarian N Gobalakrishnan denied that the Pakatan-led state government is worried over the prospect of their members leaping to the opposite side.

"I have not heard of anything. Of course we know that BN has been trying to get our people to defect but I have heard nothing to merit any serious attention," he said.

Meanwhile, Jerlun Umno MP Mukhriz Mahathir denied that there were any attempts by BN to induce defections.

"No. Not that I have heard of. As far as I know, there have been no such attempts to get them to defect," he said.
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Adrian Wong · Feb 5, 2009

Bastards. We will pay them back in 2012!!!!

I don't know what the Sultan is thinking...

I just went over to his official guestbook (PEJABAT DYMM SULTAN PERAK DARUL RIDZUAN's Dreambook) to post my message :

Ampun Tuanku.

As a loyal Malaysian, I am very concerned about the developments in Perak. They are shocking to say the least.

Frankly, I'm not quite so concerned about our politicians leaping from one party to another (and even back again) at their whims and fancies, even though it makes everyone look like fools.

Neither am I really worried about the casualness at which these four politicians betrayed the trust of their electorate and party. They will get their just desserts in time.

What I'm concerned about is the unbridled eagerness of Barisan Nasional in accepting two tainted politicians into their fold just to seize control of the State. If their lack of ethics and morals is of no concern to Barisan Nasional, does that not speak volumes about the type of government Perak can expect under their leadership?

I implore you to dissolve the State Assembly and call for general elections in Perak. Let the people decide who they want to lead Perak into the difficult years ahead. Let the people decide on the fate of those four froggy members of the Perak state assembly.

Ampun Tuanku!
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If you can, do so too, go post your opinions here - PEJABAT DYMM SULTAN PERAK DARUL RIDZUAN's Dreambook

This is sickening...

Adrian Wong · Feb 5, 2009

Even Aliran thinks the state government should be dissolved.

The Election Commission has no inherent powers to decide whether a vacancy has occurred in a constituency. It has no discretionary authority to override the notification of the Speaker of the PerakState Assembly declaring that the state seats of Changkat Jering and Behrang have fallen vacant following the resignations of the incumbents of these seats.

The EC cannot plead that doubts exist because the incumbents have disputed the validity of their resignation letters. It is completely unacceptable for the EC chairperson Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof to state, “As such, EC decided that it cannot establish that vacancies have occurred.” It is not for the EC to cast doubts on the notification of the Speaker declaring the vacancies in these two constituencies.

As a newly appointed Chairman, he may not be all that conversant with the rules governing elections. But he must heed the words of his predecessor, the former EC chairman Tan Sri Rashid Abdul Rahmanwho had served the EC for some 25 years. According to Rashid, the EC has no choice but to call for by-elections. Rashid was well aware of the present controversy surrounding these resignation letters when he gave his opinion.

Legally there exist no doubts as to the vacancies of these two seats but there are clearly doubts as to why the EC chose to take this decision which is without doubt ultra vires. The EC should have told the two disputing Assemblymen to take their matter to court and sort out their problems. This would have been the correct stand to take. The EC should never be seen to be part of their problem. In this manner, the EC would have established itself as an impartial institution to conduct free and fair elections. That perception is in serious doubt today.

The EC’s decision will perpetuate this problem of party hopping that is plaguing the Perak state government. With the serious economic problems that we are faced with, the government cannot be embroiled with unethical party hopping which seems to take up so much time and energy of the government to stay in power and that of the opposition bent on toppling a legitimately elected government.

As long as this razor-thin majority is in place, the uncertainties of governance will continue to exist to the detriment of the people and their welfare.

To overcome the present problem once and for all, Aliran would urge the Perak state government to seriously consider dissolving the state assembly and go back to the people as the ultimate arbitrators to solve this problem.

Aliran would also like to appeal to His Royal Highness, the Sultan of Perak, in all humility, to kindly consent to the dissolution of the state assembly as a way to overcome this deadlock.

P Ramakrishnan
President, Aliran
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Adrian Wong · Feb 5, 2009

Heck, even UMNO's own Tenku Razaleigh thinks it's STUPID.

Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah

Some BN leaders are already celebrating our ‘seizing power’ in the Perak state government via defections. One major newspaper, taking the matter as settled, is already devoting frontpage coverage to speculation about who will be the new Menteri Besar.

All this has happened because three state assemblymen from the Perak government have left their respective parties to become independents allied to BN, and the Bota state assemblyman has returned to BN.

A few words of caution are in order in in this extremely fluid situation.

For constitutional, ethical and political reasons, I think celebrations are premature.

Constitutional points

The Constitution and the role of the Ruler in such crises must be respected.
The defections may or may not topple the government of Perak, but some of us are behaving as if they have instantaneously transferred the government to BN. Defections are not the basis for the formation of a government. Elections are. 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. From among the elected representatives, the Ruler appoints as his Menteri Besar the individual who in his opinion commands the confidence of the majority in the assembly, or dewan. This choice belongs to him alone, although thereafter the Assembly may reject his choice by a vote of no confidence in the dewan. The Ruler’s powers and those of the legislative assembly act as checks and balances on each other.

The Menteri Besar has sought the Ruler’s consent for the dissolution of the State Legislative Assembly. The decision now rests with the Ruler. If the assembly is not dissolved, Dato’ Seri Nizar Jamaluddin remains as Menteri Besar until he resigns of his own accord, or is removed by a vote of no-confidence in a formal sitting of the assembly. The Constitution makes no provision for his removal by press conferences or newspaper headlines declaring victory.

Ethical and political issues

The ethical and political issues coincide because ethical failures are at the core of our political problem. Umno is in critical condition. Our biggest challenge, both as a party and as the governing 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 has put it, that we should shun.

Two of the assemblymen whose allegiance we have suddenly gained are under investigation for corruption. I was clearly wrong about the integrity of the assemblyman from Bota. His justification for his record-breaking ten day double-hop is an insult to the public’s intelligence and nauseating in its insincerity. It is precisely this kind of open abuse of the public’s trust for the sake of personal gain that causes people to hate Umno.

The farcical circumstances of these defections, complete with mysterious disappearances, sudden reversals, and implausible explanations, show 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. This mistrust will taint any government formed on the back of these crossovers.

Elections are the sole source of the government’s authority in a democratic society.

In the end we shall have to face elections

If the Ruler decides not to accede to the MB’s request for the dissolution of Parliament, and 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.

Our taking control without resort to elections would cement the enmity of the very people we should be trying to win back at the next elections. Come next General Election, they are are likely to reject both our state and parliamentary candidates with greater vehemence, and not just in Perak.

Contests in a democracy are not a fight for survival in which anything goes. They are competitions to serve.

BN should reform to improve its ability to serve with distinction. This is a long-term 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.
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Dashken · Feb 5, 2009

Expected already... Sigh...

Adrian Wong · Feb 5, 2009

The Pakatan Rakyat better learn from this.

1. Next time, walk softly but carry a BIG stick la!

2. Next time, choose your candidates CAREFULLY. Get people with solid characters, instead of any Tom, Dick or Harry who raises his hand!

Dashken · Feb 5, 2009

LIVE REPORTS

4.05pm: State secretary Abdul Rahman Hashim instructs Menteri Besar Mohd Nizar and all exco members to vacate their offices at the state secretariat by 5pm today. They have been reminded not to take any official documents with them. They were also told to hand in their official car keys as well as the keys to their offices

3.25pm: It learnt that Mohd Nizar will announce his refusal to resign as requested by the sultan.

3.20pm All top Pakatan leaders are in a meeting at Mohd Nizar's official residence to chart their next course of action. A press conference is expected to be held soon. Notable absentees are Kedah MB Azizan Razak and Kelantan MB Niz Aziz Nik Mat.

About 30 supporters have gathered outside the residence. A big team of some 50 journalists are also waiting there.

3pm: The office of the Sultan of Perak, in a statement, said that after meeting all the 28 BN assemblypersons and the three independents, the sultan was convinced that Mohd Nizar had ceased to command the confidence of the majority of the state assembly members.

"If YAB Datuk Seri Ir. Mohammad Nizar bin Jamaluddin does not resign his post as Perak menteri besar together with the members of the state executive council, the posts of menteri besar and state executive councillors are considered vacant," the statement said.

2.40pm: The five Indian state representatives in Perak - A Sivasubramaniam (DAP-Buntong), V Sivakumar (DAP-Tronoh), Keshvinder Singh (DAP-Malim Nawar), S Kesavan (PKR-Hutan Melintang) and A Sivanesan (DAP-Sungkai) - held a press conference earlier today that they would remain loyal to Pakatan Rakyat.

Speaker Sivakumar said that various approaches were made to entice them to cross over to BN.

"We were offered money and high posts in party (MIC) and government but we rejected the advances of these people," he said.
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Adrian Wong · Feb 5, 2009

State secretary Abdul Rahman Hashim instructs Menteri Besar Mohd Nizar and all exco members to vacate their offices at the state secretariat by 5pm today. They have been reminded not to take any official documents with them.
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Ho ho ho!!! That is SO funny.

When BN lost the elections, the police barricaded the offices so that they would have time to DESTROY official state documents. Why the rush and the "reminder" about the official documents this time????

Dashken · Feb 5, 2009

LIVE REPORTS

4.15pm A source inside the Pakatan meeting at the MB's residence say that the atmosphere inside is sombre. Anwar is chairing the meeting, without everyone is being allowed to have a say.

4.14pm Unconfirmed reports state that former DAP state assemblyperson Hee Yit Foong's house in Ipoh and her service centre in Jelapang have been pelted with stones by people angry with her defection.

4.10pm Roads leading to the state secretariat have been blocked by the police to stop people from gathering there.
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Adrian Wong · Feb 5, 2009

Unconfirmed reports state that former DAP state assemblyperson Hee Yit Foong's house in Ipoh and her service centre in Jelapang have been pelted with stones by people angry with her defection.
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Ho ho ho!!! She deserves it!!!

PowerSlide · Feb 6, 2009

she sold perak ppl's trust..such a disgrace when i read all these

Chai · Feb 6, 2009

What the heck is this???

I thought this is a democratic country???

We still have to wait for another 3 years for GE!

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