| Malaysia State Constitutional Crisis |
Tag it:
| Written by Our Correspondent | |
| Tuesday, 09 February 2010 | |
 The courts award Perak to UMNO
Any indication that Malaysia's courts were becoming independent of the government disappeared from view again Tuesday when the five-member Federal Court ruled that United Malays National Organization stalwart Zambry Abdul Kadir is the rightful chief minister of the state of Perak, the country's second biggest and one of its richest. The state has been caught a constitutional crisis since May of 2009, with the government paralyzed by the controversy over who was actually in charge. Perak had been controlled by the national opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat as a result of the March 2008 national election, with Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin as chief minister. However, then-Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak engineered the defection of three lawmakers, bringing the government to a halt in a 28-28 tie. Upon their defection, Sultan Raja Azlan Shah immediately ordered Nizar to vacate his position and installed Zambry in his place. That kicked off a melee in which 65 people were arrested. Ahead of Tuesday's decision, Rais yatim, the the Information Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim, was quoted by the state-owned national wire service Bernama as calling on the people to be calm. "We should respect the decision irrespective of whether it favors A or B. We are confident in our judicial system and in the way the law is administered," Bernama quoted him as saying. "The mood is somber," said a Malay woman in Ipoh, the state capital. "I think people are going to just have to wait for the general election," which is probably three years away. "The feeling is that the verdict about Nizar and Zambry was decided a long time ago." Kuala Lumpur High Court Judge Abdul Aziz Rahim ruled on May 11 that the sultan lacked the authority to remove Nizar without a vote of confidence in the statehouse, only to have the appellate court put his decision in abeyance a few hours later. The case – and the Perak state government – have been stalled as the Federal Court, the country's highest, took up the decision in November and has chewed on it ever since. The ruling, led by Court of Appeal president Alauddin Mohd Sheriff, was built on the premise that the Barisan Nasional, or ruling national coalition, controls 31 votes in the Perak statehouse although no vote has ever been taken, and while the three defectors are said to be leaning towards the Barisan, they have given no official indication that they would cross the aisle. The Election Commission refused a letter proclaiming the realignment of their loyalty, setting the stage for the constitutional crisis. When Nizar refused to go, instead of waiting for Judge Abdul Aziz's original ruling, elite federal Field Reserve Unit police invaded the statehouse on May 7 to drag opposition Speaker V. Sivakumar out of the chambers amid flying furniture and protests that resulted in the arrest of 65 people. As far as can be determined, it is the first time in Malaysian history that federal police had ever entered a legislature. The ruling appears unlikely to end the continuing political uncertainty in either Perak or the government. Political analysts in Kuala Lumpur say the logical solution to the stalemate – a state popular by-election to determine the makeup of the statehouse – is unlikely because Najib and the Barisan do not believe they could win it. The state, long a tin mining center, has an extremely large Chinese and Indian population and the Chinese have largely abandoned the Barisan because of the collapse into scandal of the Malaysian Chinese Association, which is embroiled in infighting over the disappearance of billions of dollars in the attempt to turn Port Klang, 60 km. west of Kuala Lumpur, into a multimodal port. The Barisan instead appears to be counting on time to bring the voters, particularly disaffected ethnic Malays who have abandoned UMNO for the fundamentalist Parti Islam se-Malaysia and Anwar Ibrahim's Parti Keadilan Rakyat, or People's Justice Party, because of a long series of scandals and outright crimes. However, Anwar is on trial in Kuala Lumpur in what has been widely billed as Sodomy 2, on charges of sodomizing a former aide in a trial that to everybody but the government itself appears to be built on dubious allegations that were laid to derail the first realistic challenge to the ruling national coalition since the country was formed. In the meantime, his party is beset by infighting in several state assemblies, particularly Penang and Selangor, with a growing number of restive lawmakers threatening to leave the opposition coalition and return to the Barisan. Three have been brought before a disciplinary committee of the opposition coalition seeking answers to questions over their use of personal expense accounts. The coalition that Anwar cobbled together has been an unlikely one from the start, with the Islamic, largely rural and fundamentalist PAS on one side and the ethnic Chinese Democratic Action Party on the other, with Anwar's moderate, urban Malays in the middle. Zulkifli Nordin, a member of Anwar's Parti Keadilan Rakyat, was quoted publicly earlier this week as predicting mass resignations over the next two to three weeks over tensions with the DAP and PKR's difficulty in dealing with them. "The problem was that Anwar rounded up a bunch of incompetents to run in 2008, and disillusionment was so great with UMNO that a lot of people got voted into office who should never have been voted into office," said a businessman in Kuala Lumpur. The opposition coalition, he said, has thus never been able to capitalize on its gains by actually paying attention to governing. At the same time, the opposition has been harried by Najib's use of law enforcement powers including the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and others to bring opposition lawmakers in on charges that many observers believe are superfluous. Nonetheless, the court's decision appears certain to reinforce popular opinion that Malaysia's judiciary is thoroughly in the pockets of UMNO. That isn't helped by the case against Anwar, who is charged with having consensual sex with the former aide, a charge that is extremely rare in Malaysia and especially Kuala Lumpur, where gay bars abound and homosexuality isn't particularly condemned despite the fact that it is nominally against the law. An examination of the evidence against him in similar charges in 1998 leads to the overwhelming conclusion that it was concocted to derail his political career. The case has been put on temporary hold as Anwar's lead counsel, Karpal Singh, seeks to disqualify the presiding judge, Mohd Zabidin Mohd Diah.
Set as favorite
Bookmark
Email This
Comments
(14)
The government which has became GANGSTERS-using the Police as they thugs* They can do anything they like while other cannot- double standard* Can foreigners thrust this type of GOVT? Putting their money in Malaysia has become a high risk for obvious political reasons
Votes: +3
report abuse
vote down
vote up
 written by Jenjiz Kahna @ Mongol , February 17, 2010
Other races when they protest go to Jail, but Malays (UMNO) no problem huh?? Indains have suffered so much in Malaysia-the Government is a Paraiah government. Najib and his relative Hishamuddin should be arrested for Murder and dishonesty-their fatyhers were a different breed.THEY WILL DIE MISREABLY NATURALLY....ITS BETTER THAT WAY.wE NEED THEM TO LIVE TO SEE HOW THEY f**k up OTHER PEOPLES LIVES.Their children will see it -the curse when you HURT People! As a Christian I feel like a Muslim! Gopd wil punish...trust me....I know.
Votes: +3
report abuse
vote down
vote up
written by Jenjiz Kahna @ Mongol , February 17, 2010
Malaysians protest over Aussie criticism February 17, 2010 - 5:04PM
Votes: +3
NOTE: This is Malaysia-Protest tby the F@$%^&^&** Malays ( fundementalists-invitating to the Taliban types ) is OK , but the Indians are Arrested to ask for placement in the universitiers and loans to start a business or land that only Malays can have -1 Malaysia is a JOKE! Everyone all over the world laughs why the PM is not arrested for MURDER-and now ASEAN too! So do we all know that things are not right in Malaysia? Malaysia is going down. Muslims are killing Malaysia.Not the Good ones-I hope there are some-Maybe Zaid Ibrahim-Honest Right Thinking man unl;ike the conman Mahathir Mohamed! A big protest in the Malaysian capital was sparked by the criticism of more than 50 Australian MPs of Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy trial. More than 50 Australian MPs last week lodged a formal protest over the trial of the former deputy premier which began earlier this month, urging Malaysia to drop the case and saying it would hurt the country's image. Some 300 demonstrators, led by the influential youth wing of Malaysia's ruling party UMNO, yelled slogans and carried banners calling on Australia to "Mind your own business" during the peaceful rally which lasted less than an hour outside the Australian High Commission. "If you want to ask for a fair trial, OK, but if you're asking us to drop our charges and insinuate conspiracy, then this is something that we have to address," said UMNO youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin. "It is serious and although not reflective of the Australian government, is still considered an interference which we must protest," he told AFP. Representatives of the demonstrators were allowed into the building to deliver a memorandum to High Commissioner (ambassador) Penny Williams. "We welcomed them coming and making those representations, and we undertook to convey those concerns back to Canberra," an official from the high commission told AFP."Both we and the people we saw this morning did make a clear distinction that these were the personal views of Australian MPs and that was something that our Malaysian visitors today completely understood." Anwar says the sodomy charges, which could have him jailed for 20 years, are a political conspiracy and another attempt to end his career after he was convicted and jailed on similar allegations a decade ago.The Australian MPs had said that observers of Malaysia "find it difficult to believe that a leading opposition voice could be charged with sodomy a second time" and noted the allegations came after Anwar made major gains in 2008 polls. Prime Minister Najib Razak said over the weekend that Malaysia would "explain and engage" with the Australian lawmakers. "I don't think they know the real situation," he said according report abuse
vote down
vote up
written by hassan , February 16, 2010
Ask yourself... why would anyone hate their government or their king if that trusted ruler is for the people? You think I just want to hate them for no reason? No, the reason we hate them to grave is because they are very corrupted under the control of umno pariah. Robbing, looting and raping this country’s wealth for own gain. Look at all the postings... I am not the only one that is bitter angry towards these umno pariahs. There are millions and millions of Malaysian very angry and bitter towards these umno pariahs. They feel cheated, robbed and raped. Although we may feel helpless now but with all hell comes, we will boot all these umno pariahs in next election. What happened in Perak is not something can be forget and forgive. To sultan of Perak… You know what; he is not even worth addressing. Forget about the that guy and other corrupted evil sultans… they are bunch of losers. The only one that is matter as a sultan to me and that I respect with my life is Sultan Raja Petra. To me he is my King of Malaysia. I adore him. He is next to Allah to me. I will address him as my Duli Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Depertuan Agung Raja Petra. I know majority will agree because he is the true king, the king of people. We will crown our King Raja Petra officially when we the people come to power.
Votes: +5
Now let me ask these umno pariahs, why do we love our king, Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda Raja Petra? It’s because he cares about us the people. He wants justice and fairness. HE IS THE PEOPLE’S KING… stupid. When someone loves and cares about us, we do the same and even die for them. To other sultans, learn from our great sultan YMMSPB Raja Petra. Ampun Tuanku patik meminta ampun dari Tuanku Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda Raja Petra for the nasty words that I have used to other incompetent sultans. I pray to Allah that they will use Tuanku as an example what a sultan ought to be, “Sultan of the people”. Not the sultan of umno pariahs and the people's blood money. That is our blood money if you live comfortably without caring about the very people who is feeding you. report abuse
vote down
vote up
written by Baby Doc @ Idi Amin , February 15, 2010
Malaysian are frigthened to blog-after Hishamuddin and his cousain who run Malaysia got a Blogger charged in court. They used the excuse that you cant talk about a murderer who was not arrested because he was Royalty. What a sad state of affairs when the Government supports MURDERERS-Pun intended!
Votes: +5
report abuse
vote down
vote up
written by Alfonso D'Bugger , February 15, 2010
"A cloth banner with the portrait of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, put up to welcome him for Chinese New Year celebrations, was taken down by the local council staff and this has angered those who put it up in Port Klang! The celebration is set to be held at Jalan Chan Ah Choo in Pandamaran and the banner was put up by restaurateurs and traders who also had buntings close to their premises. Klang Municipal Council (MPK) staff removed the banners and buntings around the township, meant to welcome Najib, without notice.
Votes: +2
On Thursday, the Najib banner 40ft wide and 32ft in length, was put as the Chinese people in the Pandamaran New Village had invited him to the event. ( Are the Chinese there B*&$% carriers???) Dont youi know that Malaysia discriminates its citizens.Najib is No 1 Malaysia? Great answer from Ronnie Liu-But that is the Law! At least we have a government that follows the law-Where is the C-4? "State exco for local government Ronnie Liu said the removal of the banner with Najib’s portrait had to be done as there was no permit approval from the local council. Even banners or buntings put up by the Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim or Najib in Selangor need a permit, "" he said. Isnt that CORRECTLY DONE? To build a church for prayers the old government will tear it down !!! _______________________________________________________ ___________________ Your one-stop information portal: report abuse
vote down
vote up
written by sapu , February 15, 2010
Malaysia is going to be failed state. Every policy UMNO makes is not right. They have failed to produce good governance in spite of being handed power on a plate by the British. They have no sense of nationhood. They only know how to show preference to their own kind and religion. Now the former DPM Musa Hitam says that business is not race dependent. He is angry that no one wants to have a Malay as a partner. The Chinese have learned the hard way - they have been played out many times before. Now many will invest overseas. Putting their money in Malaysia has become a high risk for obvious political reasons. If he really believes what he says, he would make it his life's work to break down "race" in Malaysian politics. Now it all talk and probably also the wrong signals too. For people like me, watching Malaysia do down into the depths of corruption, incompetence and apartheidism over 50 years is not too sad. All that has happened has been expected especially after May 1969. Malaysia is staring at an abyss. UMNO Malays have no idea how to stop this rot.
Votes: +5
report abuse
vote down
vote up
written by Alfonso D'Bugger , February 13, 2010
hasan, no apologies or clarification required.In this country there has never been the respect for the Rule Of Law after Mahathir Mohamed forgave ( as Allah could) the Sultan of Johor for two Murders.Matahir is God to UMNO-the Allah. As a Malaysian, I am disgusted with the Government handling of Anwar Ibrahim's case, the Killing of the Mongolian Model, the death of that young Chinese man Teoh and the other Indian who was kicked and murdered in the Police Lockup. I sometimes feel walking along Masjid India, that there are more strangers who are not Malaysians.I am not only afraid of other alien people in Malaysia-Nigerians etc but also the government which has became GANGSTERS-using the Police as they thugs!
Votes: +4
report abuse
vote down
vote up
written by hassan , February 13, 2010
As you noticed, my comment has been removed and I do apologize with what I had to say. But that does not mean I am apologizing to sultan of Perak or any other blood sucking vampires. I intented to express my frustration, my feeling and my anger. Our freedom has been robbed and tramped by these so called pariah leaders.
Votes: +4
report abuse
vote down
vote up
written by Rafeal , February 13, 2010
"Bayan Baru MP Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohd Hashim, who initiated an unprecedented open attack against DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng two weeks ago, has quit Parti Keadilan Rakyat. Zahrain, the first Pakatan Rakyat MP to resign from PKR, said he would remain as an independent. "
Votes: +2
I wonder how much money he collected from UMNO. The trouble with Pakatan is that all the UMNO doubtful pariahs have come into PKR and are now blackmailing ...they will be well paid by UMNO. Zahrain is another CORRUPTED EX-UMNO....this is how it works. The worst case scenerio-if all the Indians andChinese are gone--Immigrated! These buggers will be fighting with each other! report abuse
vote down
vote up
written by Ulu jempol Mafia , February 13, 2010
Shameful for Malaysia's leadership that they have to appoint Judges that will keep them in power. I believe that even Adolf Hitler was democratically appointed. His laws for killing Jews was the law.Same in Cambodia, the Prime Minister of Cambodia ( ex-Khemer Rouge who partcipated in the genocide ) governs -but there is a war crimes tribunal which prosecutes War Criminals who were involved in the genocide.
Votes: +2
I suppose who is in power appoints suckers to make the law and the decisions.Malaysian Judiciary are mercenaries ( paid criminals). What happened to the independence of the Judiciary? Surely, those men in Black must have a conscience-the last time I remember Judges who resigned said that upstairs will call to decide this way or that in the morning of the hearing-Obviously this is still going on. I would be ashamed to be a Judge in Malaysia. I am so suprised that so many PARIAH non-Malays have sold their souls to be JCs and Judges in the 1st instance!! report abuse
vote down
vote up
written by FairMinded , February 13, 2010
I think Najib is right about Anwars leadership. If his wife was the leader I will give 100% support. She is too kind to him.Sometimes public duty requires that you forget about personal matters-people are more important than an arrogant husband.The latter is my personal opinion.
Votes: +3
(a) If so many Malaysians who can help Malaysia have left the country and you want them back-invite them back with dual nationality. Let Malaysian also live overeas and in Malaysia. We have to be rid of the kampong and village attitude.We need Malaysian from all over the world to be ambassadors and bring money home to Malaysia. (b) Get rid of this Bumiputra nonsense-No country can survive in the Globalized 21st Century if you have Indian and Chinese as 2nd Class citizens-All must be equal.If after 5o years Malays cant make it then genetically something must be wrong-too many Indian Muslims in the system! report abuse
vote down
vote up
written by Leveoe affair , February 13, 2010
I am not happy with "Hassan’s" comments. Bad language is bad language. But if you take out all the crap in his statements, much of it is true and reflective of the feelings of many Muslim, Malays like me. I think that the Sultan should not play God or be bias for companies like Gamuda. Kalau Sultan otang-Bayar –lah. Money is not all. Many people have financial difficulties-no need to sell your soul to the Devil for money. Live within your means like your people in Ipoh. After all Sultan Azlan Shah will probably die within the next one or two years and meet his maker. What happened to the great Judge in him? Doesn’t he see the great injustice done by Mahathir to all and sundry without exception save UMNO cronies?? Why do you do something that is wrong? Why do you support a bad Government and Judiciary? When you remain silent on corrupted Judges? Why?
Votes: +6
The Malay race is being diluted; thanks to Mahathir-emerging is a dangerous breed of people solely bent on making money. What happened to people with integrity and values? Mahthir and Badawi now speak of the Malay and Bumiputra as being on "crutches" and now on "wheel chairs" and unable to work on their own but “dapat” anything that is free. Those days (1970s) they buka Puasa at home when their wife cooks, but today they will tell the Chinese businessman they want to buka Puasa at the Hilton and bring their wive (s), children and also take away food. Of course when you want the contract you have to belanjar –lah. Mahathir and Badawi are the same people who gave the Malay the NEP and enriched themselves. As a Muslim I would prefer PAS than UMNO to be the leaders. At least they respect diversity and other religions and not hypocrites. There is hope for Najib, but can he get rid of all the rubbish in his cabinet. If he cannot I suggest he resign and let some one else take over. Malu-lah Malaysia. report abuse
vote down
vote up
written by FairComment , February 12, 2010
In Malaysia the courts are not independent. There is no separation of powers. The Rule of Law is virtually non-existent. Judges in Malaysia are defacto government servants. The government has rewarded many shameless Judges who have given up their principles, professional values to justify decision supportive of the government. The elevation speaks for itself. They are now elevated to the Federal Court and Court of Appeals and will retire with large pensions. The Constitution is another piece of paper that actually can be flushed down the toilets-it has been bombarded by so many amendments that it is meaningless.
Votes: +9
A “Bumiputra” an alien to the Constitution is given a legal basis. Who is a Bumiputra? Article 8, 8(2), 153,160 of the Malaysian Constitution never gives Bumiputra any “special rights”. All it says that the “Malay” has a “special position”, and policy exercised must also “safeguard the legitimate interest of other communities”. So you cannot segregate Malays, Chinese and Indians by giving the former special schools-MARA, Malay College. Quota systems in universities that allow Malays with lesser grades to enter universities to the detriment of other communities who have a quota system to get educated! This was the imagination after the Government declared emergency in 1969 and dismantled the opposition. The “Bumiputra” alien is to cover citizens like Mahathir Mohamed from Kerala, India. He is not Malay. The fact that the issue of Bumiputra cannot be challenged in court is sufficient to show that the courts in Malaysia are incompetent and impotent challenge to this so called affirmative policy as racial discrimination will be struck down in liminie. Human Rights is taboo in Malaysia! It is not taught in schools or universities. There is a reason for that. Most Malaysian students are ignorant of free speech and assembly. In fact many feel that it is at the pleasure of the government. If two or more people gather in a peaceful protest without the permission of the Police, it’s an unlawful assembly and the individuals will be charged and jailed. But if the demonstration is by UMNO thugs against the USA- the burning of the US flag and demonstrations outside the US Embassy is permitted by the government. Do Malaysian Judges have eyes? Of course they do. The decline came from the dismissal of Salleh Abbas and guess who sat on the tribunal dismissing him-Hamid Omar, his deputy who later took over his job. Then of course you have Eusoff Chin and the story goes on till today. Since Mahathir Mohamed, the courts move physically miles away from the “man on the street”, so that the latter cannot afford to get a remedy. The hospitals were put on the stock exchange and life goes on. And a result people are leaving Malaysia including the Malay population who are fed up with UMNO and the elite who are vampire seeking group .The restructuring in Malaysia can only be done by the Malays. report abuse
vote down
vote up
|
Subscribe to this comment's feed
Show/Hide comments
Show/Hide comment form
India's Thirst for EnergySiddharth Srivastava Coal surge is unabated, raising environmental concerns
Full Story |
| Other Articles |
Malaysia's Uneasy Dance with the Web Are authorities about to start to filter Internet journalism?
Full Story |
| most read... |
Alice Poon
| Anti-Anti-Speculation ActionTuesday, 24 August 2010 | Alice Poon (潘慧嫻)
It seems that the SAR government finally decided to choose
the lesser of two evils: taking decisive, albeit belated, anti-speculation
measures in the hope of stabilizing prices, rather than... Full Story |
| Previous posts: |
John Elliott: Riding the Elephant
| From vultures in Delhi, to coups in Pakistan, a journalist's un-edited take on current events |
|
Donate to Asia Sentinel
