By Debra Chong
PETALING JAYA, Feb 6 — As expected, the Pakatan Rakyat leadership council met today and immediately backed Datuk Seri Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin as the “rightful Menteri Besar of Perak” although Sultan Azlan Shah had just sworn in Barisan Nasional’s pick, Datuk Zambry Abdul Kadir.
“We regret and condemn the rude way he was treated this morning,” Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim told a press conference at the PKR headquarters here, adding they are still seeking an audience with the Perak ruler.
Nizar was asked to leave his office in the Perak State Secretariat within an hour of turning up for work at 9.50am. His office was also ransacked with all files missing but he was allowed to keep the recently-purchased Toyota Camry official car until Zambry’s swearing-in. Nizar’s Pakatan Rakyat state executive councillors also shared the same fate.
The Perak Pakatan Rakyat said it will sue the new state government at the Ipoh High Court next Tuesday over the political impasse and appointment of the Barisan Nasional state government. Monday is a public holiday for Thaipusam.
“The decison of the Sultan of Perak can be questioned in a court of law,” said DAP chairman Karpal Singh earlier, adding the Sultan had acted beyond the powers conferred on him in dismissing Nizar’s administration.
Anwar reiterated the threat to sue, saying “our panel of lawyers are studying this” but sidestepped the question about specifics of any suit.
He said the PR alliance would form their own legal panel, which is separate from Karpal’s team “to study indepth” their options.
He added that they wanted to “assure Tuanku we are here to protect the Constitution,” contrary to some media reports claiming they had acted in defiance of the ruler.
Perak state assembly speaker V Sivakumar had earlier written to the state ruler seeking permission to convene an emergency state assembly sitting and to postpone Zambry’s swearing-in at the Istana Iskandariah, Kuala Kangsar. But he was unsuccessful.
The PR electoral pact swept to power with 31 seats, comprising DAP’s 18, PKR’s 8 and Pas’ six in last March’s general elections. Sultan Azlan Shah delayed appointing a Menteri Besar until the pact agreed on Nizar, as the state constitution only allows a Malay to be Perak chief executive.
Although the government swelled its ranks to 32 in the 59-seat assembly with Bota assemblyman Datuk Nasarudin Hashim’s defection from Umno to PKR, it was finally toppled when Nasarudin returned to Umno and three state representatives, two from PKR and one from DAP, turned independent two days ago.
Sultan Azlan Shah summoned both coalitions to his Ipoh palace, Istana Kinta, and decided that Nizar had lost the majority in the assembly, commanding him to quit. Nizar has refused and last night fierily said he would defend his administration to the “last drop of blood”.
Speaking about the violent clashes outside the Ubudiah Mosque today, Anwar urged everyone to remain calm and pleaded with the police to carry out their duties professionally and “not arouse any provocation or chaos”.
“Right now there are all sorts of spontaneous reactions shown by the people to the crisis in Perak,” he said.
Asked if he was still in support of an Anti-Defection Law to bar politicians in office from hopping parties in light of the Perak situation, Anwar replied that the matter needed careful study because of the moral and ethical implications.
“We have to craft this legislation carefully,” he said.
He blamed the mess in Perak on Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Umno.
He insinuated that Najib was a master manipulator who had caused the PKR and DAP assemblymen to “disappear” at a crucial stage which caused the collapse of the Pakatan Rakyat government in Perak.
“If Umno is truly truthful to their principles and have faith in their strength and the Perak people, then go back and let the Perak voters decide for themselves,” he challenged.
Anwar added that Umno was a “bankrupt party, and a corrupt party” and claimed that it was on those counts that its Bota assemblyman Datuk Nasarudin Hashim had lost confidence in the leadership, and jumped over to PKR.
However, Nasarudin had hopped back to Umno earlier this week, adding to the numbers for the Barisan Nasional takeover today.
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