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news without borders
CPI lauds Raja Nazrin’s
‘neutral’ stand
by Giam Say Khoon
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
federal government would be greater if
statutory bodies such as the Malaysian
EC sticks to decisionPUTRAJAYA: The Election Commission
Anti-Corruption Commission are set free (EC) will not review its decision on the sta-
PETALING JAYA: The Centre for Policy Ini- from their political masters and provided tus of the Perak assemblymen for Changkat
tiatives (CPI) has lauded the Raja Muda of with the independence and autonomy Jering and Behrang because it is based on
Perak Raja Nazrin Shah’s statement that a sorely missing. In this case,
the law, its chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz
Ruler must be “neutral, non-partisan and “The investigation of the two Perak there was Mohd Yusof said yesterday.
free of having personal interest to ensure assemblymen and their subsequently a doubt in
justice for the people”.
He said the question of whether the EC
charge on Aug 25 for receiving bribes,
CPI director Dr Lim Teck Ghee said have most unfortunately been turned establishing acted beyond its jurisdiction did not arise
yesterday that amidst uncertainty sur- the because under Article 36 (5) of the Perak
to political opportunism by the Barisan
state constitution, the EC had to ensure
rounding the resignations of the Perak Nasional (BN). vacancy, so that there was a casual vacancy to call for
assemblymen for Behrang and Changkat “The impartiality of the Election Com-
Jering (Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi and mission (EC) should also come under
we decided a by-election.
Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu respectively), scrutiny. Only a short while ago, EC chair- that a “In this case, there was a doubt in estab-
Raja Nazrin’s assurance that his father, man Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Yusof said that vacancy lishing the vacancy, so we decided that a
the Sultan of Perak, has always upheld vacancy had not occurred”, he said when
such ‘unique’ circumstances prevailing in had not contacted by Bernama.
the principles of justice based on the Perak would have to be studied by legal
sovereignty of the law and emphasising advisers and various experts in law, the
occurred” The EC, after a two-hour meeting on
Tuesday, decided that there would be no
solidarity, cooperation, consensus and Constitution and election regulations. – Tan Sri
consultation, was “indeed timely”. “Yet the EC’s quick determination now Abdul Aziz by-election for the two constituencies
and that Mohd Osman Jailu (Changkat
“It is hoped that the national leader- that by-elections are not necessary for Mohd Yusof
ship will pay heed and take a leaf from the Jering) and Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi
Behrang and Changkat Jering leaves the
Ruler’s book by similarly putting the inter-public to wonder if the commission has (Behrang) will retain their elected
ests of the rakyat first and foremost over truly upheld the principles of justice.” posts.
political self-interest,” said However, it was reported that the Perak
Lim in a statement. state government did not recognise the
“The interests of decision and would challenge it in court if
the rakyat are best
‘Not good idea to bring in people of poor quality’
served when the KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime want to accept people who want
minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said to jump into your party you need
‘Constitution discourages
pivotal and watchdog
institutions of state it was not a good idea for Barisan to know the quality of the person
work with scrupulous Nasional (BN) to gain majority by also.”
integrity and are au-
tonomous. To borrow
from Raja Nazrin’s wise
bringing in people of poor quality. Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi and Os-
He said this when ask to com- man Jailu, who quit PKR to become
ment on the move by four assembly- independents, have been charged
unnecessary elections’
words, this independ- men in Perak who left Parti Keadilan with corruption and their cases are KUALA LUMPUR: Although some may want
ence helps in enhanc- Rakyat (PKR) and DAP. pending in court. the political drama in Perak to end with either
ing the effectiveness of Mahathir said: “Two people are Mahathir also warned that if they a snap election or by-elections, according to
the check and balance accused of corruption. If you bring were found by the court to be inno- a senior law lecturer, the Federal Constitution
mechanism.” in corrupt people before they are cent after joining BN, people would does not encourage such action.
Lim said public found not guilty that is not going to say that there was manipulation of Prof Dr Abdul Aziz Bari of the International
confidence in the improve the quality of the party. You justice. – Bernama Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM) said several
provisions in the Constitution indicated that un-
necessary elections and by-elections should be
avoided.
“That’s why even when the government has
the right to request for the dissolution of the
Dewan Rakyat or state legislative assemblies,
it is up to the (Yang di-Pertuan) Agong, Sultans
or Yang di-Pertuas Negri to decide whether to
agree to it,” he told Bernama.
Abdul Aziz said that such provisions indi-
cated that unnecessary elections or by-elec-
tions should be avoided.
“It means that so long as the government
can be formed based on the prevailing composi-
tion of the Dewan Rakyat or a state legislative
assembly, it should continue to serve its term,”
BN ready to form new
state govt, says Abdullah
PUTRAJAYA: The Barisan Nasional (BN) is
ready to form a new government in Perak after
four assemblymen quit their parties to support
the BN, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah
Ahmad Badawi.
“We wish to extend our thanks if they have
taken the decision to state their support for the
BN, the BN accepts and we say thank you,” he
told press conference yesterday.
“If we (BN) have the numbers, of course
we will take the step (to form the new govern-
ment),” said Abdullah, who is also BN chairman,
when commenting on the BN having a simple
majority to replace the Pakatan Rakyat govern-
ment in Perak following the development.
On whether BN would consider holding a
snap election in Perak, Abdullah said this came
under the powers of the Sultan of Perak.
However, he said, Najib would be seeking
an audience with Sultan Azlan Shah of Perak
to inform the Sultan that the BN now had the
majority in the state assembly.
Asked if the BN would move a vote of
no-confidence in the present government,
Abdullah said it had not been decided yet but
remained an option.
Asked if the people of Perak would accept
the BN re-administering the state, he said it
was up to them. – Bernama
MB errs in dissolving state
assembly: Lawyer
KUALA LUMPUR: Perak Mentri Besar Datuk
Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin has
erred in announcing the dissolution of
theSun | THURSDAY FEBRUARY 5 2009
the EC did not review it within two days.
Abdul Aziz said the decision was made
solely on the legal angle and under the
commission’s jurisdiction.
He said that if any party was unhappy
with the decision, it could take the matter
to court.
“We are open, and we will not obstruct.
We will abide and will not question what-
ever decision by the court,” he added.
DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang had also
claimed that the EC had acted beyond its
jurisdiction in maintaining the status quo
of the two assemblymen.
Commenting on the allegations, Abdul
Aziz said that disputing the decision was
akin to challenging the sovereignty of the
Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Conference
of Rulers because his appointment as EC
chairman was made by the Yang di-Pertuan
Agong with the concurrence of the Confer-
ence of Rulers.
“It’s improper ... disrespectful ... if they
don’t agree, take it to court ... no need to
challenge,” he said. – Bernama
he said.
He said that any move to call either a snap
election or by-elections in Perak would be akin
to going a step backward.
Yesterday, the Election Commission (EC)
ruled that Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi and Mohd
Osman Mohd Jailu remained as Perak as-
semblymen for Behrang and Changkat Jering
respectively, as the commission was unable to
establish a “casual vacancy”.
EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof
said the commission found that there was doubt
over the vacancy of the two seats after a letter
submitted by Perak state assembly speaker V.
Sivakumar was contradicted by denials from the
assemblymen.
The Pakatan Rakyat state government cried
foul over the decision, with the state DAP giving
the EC 48 hours to review the decision.
In the meantime, Jamaluddin and Mohd Os-
man declared themselves to be Independent
assemblymen amid rumours that they might
join Barisan Nasional. – Bernama
the state assembly prior to obtaining the
consent of Sultan Azlan Shah, a lawyer said
yesterday.
Malik Imtiaz Sarwar said this is because
the power to dissolve the state assembly is
in the hands of the Ruler of the state and in
this case the Sultan, not the mentri besar.
He said the Perak Constitution clearly
states that dissolving the state assembly
is the prerogative of the Sultan and no-
body else has the power to dissolve the
assembly.
He said it was unclear how the mentri
besar had concluded to dissolve the state
government. – Bernama
Police: Ignore SMSes calling
for demo
IPOH: The public are advised not to be influ-
enced by SMSes inviting the people to join
demonstrations in the state today.
Perak police Datuk Zulkifli Abdullah said
the police had information that such SMSes
were widely being circulated purportedly from
the Pakatan Rakyat urging the people join the
demonstrations.
“Police are investigating and will bring to
book the people responsible for spreading
the SMSes, which are seditious in nature and
cause tension in the state,” he told reporters
here last night.
He said the security situation in the state
was under control despite the political crisis
in the state and that the police had the man-
power to handle any situation.
“We will also take action against anyone
participating in illegal demonstrations,” he
added. – Bernama