May 12, 2009
POLITICAL CRISIS IN PERAK
Court stops state takeover
KUALA LUMPUR - A POLITICAL crisis over control of a Malaysian state deepened on Tuesday as a court agreed to review a controversial ruling that handed power back to the opposition alliance.
In the latest twist in the battle for northern Perak state, the Barisan Nasional coalition, which rules nationally, won a 'stay order' against Monday's High Court decision that its takeover in February was illegal.
Decision rests with Sultan
Last week, at the first sitting of the state assembly since February's ousting of the People's Alliance state government, police arrested 90 people as they protested against the swearing-in of the National Front administration in Perak.
The outgoing National Front chief minister has appealed against the court ruling and sought a stay on the change of government, Malaysiakini reported.
... more
Zambry likens himself to Mandela, Gandhi
IPOH - BARISAN Nasional's (BN) Zambry Abd Kadir, whose nearly three-month tenure as mentri besar of Perak was ruled illegitimate by the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Monday, has likened himself to Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi.
Warning Pakatan Rakyat not to under-estimate him, he said the High Court's 'shocking decision' did not mean he would give up the fight.
... more
'The circumstances of this case are very unique because it not only involves the applicant and respondent but the whole state,' said appeals court judge Ramly Mohamad Ali, saying a date would be fixed for the appeal hearing.
Perak has been in limbo since defections cost the Pakatan Rakyat opposition its balance of power in the state which it won in general elections last year, and its chief minister Nizar Jamaluddin was sacked by the state's sultan.
Barisan Nasional ruled out holding fresh polls, installed its own leader, Zambry Abdul Kadir, and reconvened the state assembly last week in a move which triggered brawling inside the chamber and dozens of arrests outside.
'Until the appeal is heard, Zambry is the chief minister,' Barisan Nasional lawyer Mohamad Hafarizam Harun said outside the court. 'I urge Nizar to vacate his office and Zambry to enter the office,' he told reporters.
An aide to Mr Nizar, who had been back in office for less than 24 hours, said he was holding talks with his lawyers and state legislators over whether to appeal the decision.
On Monday, Mr Nizar said he wanted to petition the sultan to dissolve the assembly to pave the way for fresh elections, which the Pakatan Rakyat would likely have won.
Malaysia's top legal body has warned against a lengthy legal process and said that only new elections would resolve the impasse.
'Power has to be returned to where it rightly belongs - in the hands of the people,' the Bar Council said. -- AFP
POLITICAL CRISIS IN PERAK
Court stops state takeover
KUALA LUMPUR - A POLITICAL crisis over control of a Malaysian state deepened on Tuesday as a court agreed to review a controversial ruling that handed power back to the opposition alliance.
In the latest twist in the battle for northern Perak state, the Barisan Nasional coalition, which rules nationally, won a 'stay order' against Monday's High Court decision that its takeover in February was illegal.
Decision rests with Sultan
Last week, at the first sitting of the state assembly since February's ousting of the People's Alliance state government, police arrested 90 people as they protested against the swearing-in of the National Front administration in Perak.
The outgoing National Front chief minister has appealed against the court ruling and sought a stay on the change of government, Malaysiakini reported.
... more
Zambry likens himself to Mandela, Gandhi
IPOH - BARISAN Nasional's (BN) Zambry Abd Kadir, whose nearly three-month tenure as mentri besar of Perak was ruled illegitimate by the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Monday, has likened himself to Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi.
Warning Pakatan Rakyat not to under-estimate him, he said the High Court's 'shocking decision' did not mean he would give up the fight.
... more
'The circumstances of this case are very unique because it not only involves the applicant and respondent but the whole state,' said appeals court judge Ramly Mohamad Ali, saying a date would be fixed for the appeal hearing.
Perak has been in limbo since defections cost the Pakatan Rakyat opposition its balance of power in the state which it won in general elections last year, and its chief minister Nizar Jamaluddin was sacked by the state's sultan.
Barisan Nasional ruled out holding fresh polls, installed its own leader, Zambry Abdul Kadir, and reconvened the state assembly last week in a move which triggered brawling inside the chamber and dozens of arrests outside.
'Until the appeal is heard, Zambry is the chief minister,' Barisan Nasional lawyer Mohamad Hafarizam Harun said outside the court. 'I urge Nizar to vacate his office and Zambry to enter the office,' he told reporters.
An aide to Mr Nizar, who had been back in office for less than 24 hours, said he was holding talks with his lawyers and state legislators over whether to appeal the decision.
On Monday, Mr Nizar said he wanted to petition the sultan to dissolve the assembly to pave the way for fresh elections, which the Pakatan Rakyat would likely have won.
Malaysia's top legal body has warned against a lengthy legal process and said that only new elections would resolve the impasse.
'Power has to be returned to where it rightly belongs - in the hands of the people,' the Bar Council said. -- AFP
