Business Times, Singapore
06 Mar 2009
Razaleigh calls for fresh polls in Perak
He says this may be an elegant way out of the political impasse
By S JAYASANKARAN
IN KUALA LUMPUR
BARISAN Nasional lawmaker and former finance minister Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has added his voice to a growing chorus of Malaysians demanding fresh elections in Perak state to resolve its month-long political impasse.
‘I think that constitutional rule in Perak has collapsed and the only way to rectify the situation is to go back to the people,’ Tengku Razaleigh told BT in an exclusive interview yesterday. ‘That would be the appropriate thing for the ruler to do.’
The reference is to Sultan Azlan Shah, the state’s monarch who, on Feb 2, rejected a request by Perak’s then chief minister Nizar Jamaluddin – of the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) opposition alliance – to dissolve the state’s assembly and pave the way for fresh polls.
Mr Nizar made the request after his government was toppled when three of his representatives defected to become independents supportive of the Barisan Nasional (BN).
Sultan Azlan decided that, to his mind, the BN held the majority in the assembly (31-28) and so appointed Zambry Kadir from the dominant United Malays National Organisation (Umno) as the state’s new chief minister.
Things have got worse since. On Tuesday, Mr Sivakumar called for an emergency sitting of the assembly but was barred by the civil service and the police. Undeterred, he convened the meeting under a tree.
The House’s meeting which was boycotted by all BN representatives decided – unanimously – that Mr Nizar commanded the confidence of the House and that he should request the Sultan for the assembly’s dissolution – again!
Meanwhile, BN reps had rushed to court which gave them an injunction prohibiting Mr Sivakumar from holding further meetings. But it isn’t clear if the meeting under the tree was invalid – if it was, the order would have had to be retrospective which is unheard of. That implied that Dr Zambry was, indeed, suspended and that the state had drifted into a constitutional black hole.
Both the BN and the opposition have vowed fresh court cases but the problem may not be easily resolved. Most of the calls for fresh polls – except for anonymous commentators on Internet websites – generally tip-toe around the episode’s background for fear of offending either the Sultan or the BN
Tengku Razaleigh didn’t have any such compunction. To be sure, he has the gravitas to carry off such a statement – some quarters might consider it lese- majeste – because he is a royal himself, being the uncle of the Sultan of Kelantan. In addition, he is an elder statesman of Umno, having narrowly lost its presidency in 1987 to former premier Mahathir Mohamad by a scant 44 votes.
Why did he think elections weren’t called? ‘The chances are that we (the BN) will lose badly in Perak,’ said the Kelantan prince. ‘That seems to be why they are reluctant to have the Sultan dissolve the assembly.’
‘This is not good and I fear for the future,’ continued Tengku Razaleigh. ‘I have no claim for the throne anywhere so I can be frank but I would like to see the monarchy strong. It’s unfortunate that it happened the way it did in Perak. But still it depends on what he (the Sultan) will do next.’
For Tengku Razaleigh, the solution is simple. ‘The rakyat (people) of Perak are his subjects,’ he said, referring to Perak’s monarch. ‘So in the end, he has to side with his people.’
In fact, Tengku Razaleigh thinks that Umno should take the lead in the matter. ‘Umno should be magnanimous and be the first to call for elections,’ he noted. ‘It would be an elegant solution and it would certainly save the Ruler further embarrassment.’
‘It may not be good for Barisan but we have no choice,’ he said. ‘We can’t go on with this impasse.’
#1 by i_love_malaysia on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 9:51 am
TRH could see the diminishing of BN and hopefully this will not drag down the monachy. Rakyat will be around even without Raja, but there wont be Raja without Rakyat!!!
#2 by timmyskh on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 9:56 am
We have to prevent the evil to take over. DAP can help in this.
Here is how’s the plan can work.
1. Get all PR MPs to sign declaration to support Tengku.
2. Get Anwar’s BN 30MPs (trojan) to sign to support Tengku.
3. Try to get a vote of confidence (this is hard, will likely be rejected by Pandikar).
4. Present it to Agong as an alternative to Najib. Tell him that he has set the precedence in T’ganu for rejecting Idris, now he can do it again.
5. Get Tengku to convince the Royals to endorse his appointment.
No matter what, we have to try our best to prevent the worst leadership of all time to take over. We must do our part to try. Let’s start promoting Tengku as PM everywhere.
If we do not do anything and hoping something will happen to Najib that prevent him from becoming PM, we are certainly waiting to drown together with this beloved nation.
Help the country by promoting Tengku. Save Malaysia now. For those who thinks someone from PR can be PM, please stop dreaming. It can’t until it can control the Parliament. You still need someone from BN to lead until GE13 before PR can take over. And there’s no other candidate in BN other than TRH!
Spread the word.
Follow him here: razaleigh.com
#3 by boh-liao on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 10:06 am
TRH is correct here. Perhaps he is familiar with history.
Umno and BN should learn from history.
For the sake of the wellness of Perak, both BN and PR should agree to dissolve the current state assembly and go for fresh polls.
Perak cannot be on autopilot yo-yoing between BN and PR, and giving opportunities to unscrupulous elected state assemblymen and assemblywomen to jump ship and make sin money.
The current chaotic and sue-and-counter-sue situation must stop as soon as possible.
The state is burning and its economy is sinking!
#4 by k1980 on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 10:07 am
The 11th Commandment: “Thou Shall Observe The Penal Code”
Section 124 of the Penal Code reads as follows:
“Whoever, with the intention of inducing or compelling or attempting to induce or compel a member of Parliament or of any legislative assembly or of any state executive council to exercise or refrain from exercising in any manner the lawful powers of such member, assaults or wrongfully restrains, or attempts wrongfully to restrain, or overawes by means of criminal force, or the show of criminal force, or attempts so to overawe, such member shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to a fine.”
#5 by michael13 on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 10:13 am
Razaleigh, a politician with principle and courage. The truth was finally spoken. Rakyat is proud of you. After all, every Malaysian loves his/her country. Hope that he can consider seriously to join the ‘Right’ party now.
#6 by wesuffer on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 10:16 am
from begining ruler already break the law by appointed BN as state goverment. because the 3 frog status as assembly are frozen
Before appoint new MB should let court to decide the frog fate 1st.
now they challenging speaker decision tru in court .
who win ,who lost, we not know yet.
but which confirmed is BN have 28 valid seat and PR with 28 valid seat too.
how come BN claimed have majority and sultan can support them.
who controling this game ? answer is money and weapon
#7 by tiger88 on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 10:17 am
He is an intellectual and he should be respected by the Malays, but sadly, only UMNO don’t have the foresight to give him a chance. He can revive UMNO for sure.
#8 by Loh on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 10:21 am
Tenku Razaleigth can in fact help to solve the problems. AAB will resign sometime towards the end of this month. The constitution does not specify that the president of UMNO is automatically the PM of the country. So if he can show the King that he can solve the crisis in Perak better than Najib, and at the same time command the support from the majority of the lower house, he might be appointed PM.
#9 by jayenjr on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 10:28 am
Sigh…..all these chaos could have been averted, if but for one man who could have made the right decision from day one…
And to think that at one point in time, he was the LP…..sigh….
Even now, the deafening silence from the royal house continues to bewilder, exasperate and amaze all lovers of truth and justice…..
Sigh….
#10 by grace on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 10:47 am
Tengku Razaleigh, you are the true leader. In fact I believe the coumtry would do much better if you are the PM.
The present leadership are scared to loose power and thus no election.
Yes, Tengku Razaleigh is honest and truthful, the gem of the country!!!
#11 by KL Dude on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 11:22 am
TRH has a good valid point but sadly whatever he says will not be accepted by those Unmo scumbags who now acting like Kings of this country ruling, influencing, manipulating & controling everything from A-Z to their advantage.
No point THR, whatever said and done so far will surely not be happening like what you’ve pointed out and it will never be as long as those scumbags are running the show.
#12 by Richardqed on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 11:28 am
Ku Li talks more sense than all of his fellow Umno members. If given the chance to actually DO something, I hope he sticks to what he says. The rakyat won’t want to see another repeat of people preaching high values and justice and fairness in their talks, but when making decisions, the decisions taken all side with BN.
#13 by taiking on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 11:33 am
Its pointless to talk about the laws now. It became so because najib and gang ignored the laws of our land and our constitution. And worse, the laws as we know them which are being upheld by umno – the police, MCAA, AG, and the judiciary being forcible annexed by umno – can no longer be depended on. Seperation of powers is dead and has been so since mamakthir’s time. The country under the umno government is ruled on one basis only which is the special rights of umnoputras (termed as malay rights to deceive illiterate malays and those living in kampungs). Umno and umnoputras have got themselves so tightly bound to that unfair and unjustifiable special rights that they cannot now – not even in a hundred years – unbind themselves. It is now apparent to all that the rights have turned into a permanent political burden. And in order to cover their weakened position they roped in the royalty. Azlan Shah, despite his intellect and wisdom as a judge, could not avoid najib’s reach. I hope he realise that and najib’s evil designs. If he does, then he should dissolve the perak assembly and let a fresh election take place.
#14 by michael13 on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 11:35 am
Nothing is impossible. The fight is on……….!!
” ‘Begin at the beginning,’ the king said gravely, ‘and go till you come to the end; then stop.’ ” – LEWIS CARROLL, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
#15 by sheriff singh on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 11:55 am
The people of Perak want it. Tengku Razaleigh recommends it. Certainly a new vote will be ideal to solve this mess.
But the biggest loser, Najib, isn’t going to want it to happen. He’ll make sure of it.
Unless ofr course Altantuya comes to haunt him. That’s the only way to make things happen. Altantuya, we are counting on you.
#16 by penang308 on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 11:59 am
“I come, I see, I conquer” said Julius Ceasar.
Najis said I come, I robbed(Perak), I raped(the Constitution)!
#17 by monsterball on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 12:10 pm
Will UMNO ever learn to respect their old respected members opinions?
Yes they will…if saying anything to support them.
I have never seen…UMNO ever been that low class in politics ..until now.
And if they are getting more and more worst….will their supporters wake up and abandon UMNO….especially…starting from..the Sultan of Perak…..opening his eyes..to gi9ve peace to Perak?
Money is not everything…and humans should not be so cheap that seems to prove… money able to buy them…to betray millions of Malaysians.
What is the point of being filthy rich…..when all their lives….Malaysians and the whole world will curse them….dead or alive. Their children and grandchildren will forever suffer that bad reputation.
Dirtiest politics wasstarted by Mahathir.
Twisting and turning facts to fiction and vice versa…started by Mahathir.
The art to accuse others..before anyone start accusing him……started by Mahathir.
The most thick skinned crooked leader teaching political crooks in USA…been admired by South East Asia political leaders crooks…calling him teacher….dearest friend…in jail….dead or ran away from their country…all admire Mahathir. Mahathir is so proud to be their leader….proving he is a world class crook.
I need to keep reminding young readers….the root cause and followed up by present UMNO leaders…getting to be worst than Mahathir.
Perhaps…they are so used to bragging …stealing and dressing up with false titles….for so so long…52 years and on going…..competing who are best…who are smarter crooks have taken control over them completely.
So we have few more devil reincarnated ……besides Mahathir…which give Malaysians the golden opportunities.. .to do God’s command…..as faithful followers….to vote them out and free those weak Malaysians souls being controlled by so many UMNO ministers..these low class students of the Devil….claiming to be best Muslims in the world…shaming millions of Malays…which UMNO.. simply do not care
Will a murderer…who is all powerful… admit murdering?
No..he will use all his power to protect his team of faithful assistants……and put out the one big show…swearing by the Koran…he is innocent…KNOWING…Malays will not talk bad about anything on Islamic way of life……..because Malaysians have yet to taste true freedom of expressions..speeches to be smarter.
Malaysia is sick sick country…and no matter what other events that will keep coming out….Malaysians must never fall into their traps…fear them….or confront them
Just smile away…till 13th election. That will make them mad.
13th election day will make Malaysians prove they are bosses over these devils.
Then our country will be recovering from sickness.
#18 by ahluck on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 12:12 pm
just for refreshment for fresh polling!
THE CLEVER KARPAL SINGH
Karpal Singh and Sultan Azlan Shah are sitting in a bar. A guy walks in and asks the barman,
‘Isn’t that Sultan Azlan Shah and Karpal?’
The barman says ‘Yep, that’s them.’ So the guy walks over and says,
‘Hello, what are you guys doing?’
Sultan says, ‘We’re planning PKR Govt Rule Malaysia’
The guy says, ‘Really? What’s going to happen?’
And Karpal says, ‘Well, we’re going to kill all BN(Barisan National) Leaders
and one Computer repairman.’
And the guy exclaimed, ‘A Computer repairman?!! !’
Karpal turns to Sultan and says, ‘See, I told you no-one would worry
about the BN Leaders!’
#19 by Onlooker Politics on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 12:23 pm
The suggestion of timmyskh (comment dated 06.03.2009 at 09: 56.59) that Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah be nominated as the candidate of Prime Minister by Pakatan Rakyat really makes sense.
It seems that the Nine Rulers of Malaysia really have the strong intent to restore their prestiges and special privileges in choosing a head of the State Government (namely, the Menteri Besar) or a head of the Federal Government (namely, the Prime Minister). The rights to appoint the head of the Government are the only legal rights left to the Monarch in order to prove the existence and the importance of the Monarch in a system of Constitutional Monarchy. Of course, the Monarch shall never be given the absolute rights to appoint a head of the Government in accordance with the wishful thinking or personal liking of the Monarch. The prerequite for selecting a candidate for the head of the Government will still be based on the criterion that the candidate is able to command the majority of the legislature when a vote of confidence from the legislators is required to be cast either in the legislature or in the Royal Palace.
With the nomination of Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah as the candidate for the post of Prime Minister after the resignation of Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the Yang Dipertuan Agong will be offered the discretion to choose the best from the two prospective nominated candidates, i.e. Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and Najib Razak. This discretion is necessary in order to prove the true existence of the Monarch. The true respect will only be paid to the Yang Dipertuan Agong by the Rakyat if His Majesty is able to show to the whole world that the King of Malaysia is not a puppet but is a king with the genuine power to appoint the Prime Minister in collaboration with the will of the Rakyat.
The old days of the much divisive two-parties Parliamentary Democracy had given the Malaysians a bad memory of racial confrontation in the multiracial plural societies. The political ecosystem of Malaysia shall require a courageous reform from the brave politicians who dare to try out the system of a UNITY GOVERNMENT. The Malaysian people of the new generations shall be ready to live in a new political ecosystem of symbiosis, which calls for the give-and-take attitude and compromise wisdom of all races of different languages, of various religious upholding and of multiple cultural backgrounds.
So far, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah is the best candidate for the post of the Prime Minister in a hopeful unity government because he is deemed as a moderate politician who is generally accepted by all races. Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah’s moderate political image is a strength over Najib Razak who is perceived by many as a morally bankrupt racist depending his advance in political mileage on having resorted to the practice of Machiavellianism.
#20 by sani on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 12:32 pm
YB + Friends
1)The SPR Overruled The Speakers.
2)The Constitution Monarchy drifted from design.
3)The Civil Service took political side.
4)The Police acted Unconstitutionally.
5)The Courts judged Unnaturally.
All these because, we the Rakyat, the source of legitimacy of the above Institutions (+ Governments), allow it. It is like you order Mee Rebus + you get Nasi Lemak, day in day out, for 50+ years.
Value your politics + VOTE. In a Democracy, THE RAKYAT MUST PREVAIL.
#21 by cintanegara on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 12:32 pm
DAP core supporters are like those Lalangs ……tend to sway left and right harmoniously according to the direction of the blowing wind…..They will blindly support any individual …. as long as he/she favours one particular ethnic group……. Foreign Newspaper (especially TINY country) is unreliable, unfair and unjust to Malaysian’s reader
#22 by Onlooker Politics on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 12:39 pm
“They will blindly support any individual …. as long as he/she favours one particular ethnic group…….” (cintanegara)
cintanegara,
You made a false accusation and required a correction in your racist mindset.
The required amendment of your statement is as follows:
“DAP core supporters will compromisinglly support any individual from the opposite camp…. as long as he/she favours the basic principles of overall betterment for All Mankinds….”
#23 by passerby on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 12:58 pm
For whatever personal reasons the sultan or his family may have, surely he cannot ignore the constitutional crisis in his state. He can’t lock himself up in his palace and let his state to drift aimlessly without a government.
The people are getting impatient and are disappointed that their sultan is not stepping in to resolve the problem. They feel so let down and are crying out for the sultan to let the people to decide who should lead the assembly again. Let hope the sultan will use his wisdom to dissolve the assemble and call for a re-election.
#24 by limaho on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 12:58 pm
What a fantastic idea, promoting Tengku Razaleigh as the next PM, in place of Nagib. Under him, we can talk about the possibility of a unity government. He is likely to have good support from the people. He has always impressed me as a responsible politician.
The way it is if nothing is changed, we will have a PM with no credibility.
#25 by gyp on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 1:02 pm
UMNO core supporters are like those Lalangs ……tend to sway left and right harmoniously according to the direction of the corrupted leaders blowing wind…..They will blindly support any individual …. as long as he/she favours one particular ethnic group……. Foreign Newspaper (especially TINY country) is more reliable, fair and just to Malaysian’s reader
#26 by despin on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 1:02 pm
However undesirable or unpleasant, the ball is now back in Sultan Azlan’s court.
#27 by cheong on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 1:22 pm
Hope TRH can review the situation and respond to all these pleas for ending the crisis.
Tuanku oh Tuanku ! no matter what happen, even if there has been threats preventing you from exercising justice, you can still act without fear or favour as you still have the respect and support of the people; but once the rakyat lose faith, you lost everything.
#28 by wesuffer on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 1:50 pm
racist party (umno , mca and mic ) should be ban !
#29 by Onlooker Politics on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 2:17 pm
Does the Sultan of Perak want to prove that His Royal Highness has the discretionary power on these matters:
1) To appoint an MB?
2) To dismiss an MB?
3) To sign approval for the convene of a new meeting in the state legislative assembly after the previous meeting has been officially ended (although this is not applicable to a temporarily adjourned meeting like that being convened by the Speaker V. Sivakumar under the raintree on 03.03.2009)?
4) To dissolve the State Assembly?
Now is the best opportunity for the Sultan of Perak to prove that HRH has the rights to excercise the discretionary power — that is to say that the Sultan can declare a dissolution of the Perak State Legislative Assembly with immediate effect. Such declaration will make people recognize that the Monarch really has the prerogative over certain matters pertaining to the formation and dissolution of a government and is not solely the puppet of Umno!
#30 by wanderer on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 2:42 pm
Mongolian C4 has chartered a course for short term gains and a long term disaster for BN, particularly UMNO. Not every malay will subscribe to the dirty tactics used by the PM in waiting.
He may have won this round unjustly but, he will face the rap of the electorates in the next GE. Loosing Perak is not the end of the world.
Hopefully, the voices from people like Razaleigh will rise again from the ashes of UMNO.
Having said that, I sincerely hope, Tuanku Azlan Shah will return to the right side of history.
#31 by monsterball on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 2:52 pm
Cintanegera said supporters of DAP are like lalangs.
His eyes are blind. His sense of understanding and logic…all gone.
His mission is to hope UMNO will notice him….as a future leader of MCA…whose party will be reduced to be insignificant…unimportant….after 13th election. Gerakan is already dead.
If supporters of DAP are Lalangs….which some idiots do not know….Lalangs do contribute so much good to mother earth…especially to better animals…than humans. Therefore….be proud and know what an idiot cintanegara is. If supporters of MCA are only good to clean potholes..lonkangs and carry balls of UMNO…..then they are maggots…worms…..leeches….crawling with no backbone…keep trying so hard to be the best second class citizens to UMNO.
#32 by Kasim Amat on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 3:30 pm
Calling for a fresh poll is undemanded for and is an outrageous act! Sultan’s order is final and everyone should be abide by it. This is Malaysia and we have to respect the decision of the Sultan! Please heed the law and respect the rights of Malay rulers. I have not seen any provisions in the Constitution saying that people have the rights to over rule the Sultan’s decision. It is obvious that BN held the majority in the state assembly and people have to respect this is the fact. Moreover, BN has ruled Perak for so many years and people in Perak has benefited tremendously from BN’s ruling. To hold a new election is wasting unnecessary money from the tax payers but this has always been seen as a reaction from BN of being afraid to loose their majority in a poll. I wish to clarify that BN is not afraid of loosing in a poll but we think that it is totally unnecessary during this difficult period caused by the global financial crisis. The primary objective is to form a government and move forward to implement plans for people to secure jobs. Any further delay will result in great economical loss eventually suffered by our people. I will be very sad to see this happen!
From the recent events taking place, we all know being a politician in Malaysia is not easy. For all those who are interested in politics, it is important that you think of the future and your family. Only by joining BN we will have a stable political life. Time is precious and you ought to think carefully before joining any opposition parties. Think of what can they give you in terms of benefits and positions and what can you do for your family? Can you advance your political career further by joining the oppositions? Will your family be happier? Please think again. In this respect, we welcome any members from PAS, PKR, DAP who are interested to have further development with their political careers to join BN and build a better state for our people. You must believe in yourself so BN will also believe in you. Together, we can build a nation that is free of corruptions.
Kasim Amat
6 March 2008
#33 by Onlooker Politics on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 4:38 pm
“I have not seen any provisions in the Constitution saying that people have the rights to over rule the Sultan’s decision.” (Kasim Amat)
Kasim Amat,
If you don’t know much about the Federal Constitution of Malaysia, then please don’t try to preach the occultic belief here. Go check the “Special Court” clauses in the Federal Constitution and then repent on what you have attempted to say and deceive the People in this blog comment! Special Court is a court allowed to be established by the Federal Constitution in order to conduct hearing on any dispute between a Malaysian citizen and a Monarch.
Sultan Azlan Shah was the Yang Dipertuan Agong who signed the bill of Special Court into a part of the Federal Constitution. If Sultan Azlan Shah could agree that a commoner be permitted by the Law to file a lawsuit against a Monarch, then who are you Kasim Amat to say that the citizen of Malaysia has no rights to sue the Monarch?
#34 by ksham on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 4:51 pm
The Perak Sultan does not know what is happening in Perak. Please send a messenger pigeon or get the 2 respected Royalties RPK and TRH to seek an audience with the Sultan. Inform him and then, justly, get him to dissolve the Perak State Assembly.
#35 by Onlooker Politics on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 4:56 pm
“Only by joining BN we will have a stable political life.” (Kasim Amat)
Kasim Amat,
Will you please stop talking nonsense again?
You have such a moderate and far-sighted leader like Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah in Umno but you corrupted goons in Umno refused him of a chance to stand as a contestant for the post of Umno President in the coming party election. Money politics are the only viable way of survival in Umno and you call such a corruption practice as “a stable political life”! What a big shame on you CORRUPTED goons in Umno! As a result of your so-called “a stable political life”, only the morally bankrupt leaders are allowed to climb up to the top of the power ladder! Only the practitioner of Machiavellianism will finally emerge as the winner in Umno party election. How are you going to justify your Corruption practice in Umno party election and jump into the wrong conclusion by saying that “you must believe in yourself so BN will also believe in you. Together, we can build a nation that is free of corruptions.”?
If you want to prove that Umno has the true intent to eradicate corruptions, then please get your political boss to give instruction to the Police in order to leave the Police’s hands off the Perak Speaker of the State Assembly, Mr V. Sivakumar. You have to show your sincerity first by stopping all kinds of CORRUPTION practices like misuse or abuse of Police Power in strengthening your political control by way of political persecution!
#36 by Onlooker Politics on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 5:16 pm
“To hold a new election is wasting unnecessary money from the tax payers” (Kasim Amat)
Kasim Amat,
You try to preach a half-truth which is no truth in this blog.
Money spent on holding a fresh election in order to enable the proper functioning of democracy should not be maliciously labelled as “wasting unnecessary money”. You may be trying to use a lousy excuse in order to hinder the healthy development of the democracy. Only a totalitarian country like Myanmar or Communist North Korea will refuse its people of the chance to cast vote in the General Election. We Malaysians certainly do not want the totalitarianism be introduced to Malaysia with the excuse of “wasting unnecessary money”!
In fact, money spent on election will create the Multiplier effect in economy because the election campaign will create job opportunities for the taxi drivers, leaflet printers, roadside food and beverages hawkers, banners designers, party flags makers, etc. A election will benefit the People by way of promoting the democracy and meanwhile spurring the economic activities.
#37 by puteri pinang on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 5:28 pm
Can we not sign a petition for a fresh election, especially the Perakians and present it to HRH to make sure HRH hears the voice of rakyat.
#38 by One4All4One on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 5:40 pm
Fresh State-wide Elections The Way to go
It only takes one to exercise one’s common sense to see that the only solution to solve the Perak impasse is to hold a fresh state wide election.
It is unbecoming and irresponsible of leaders to block and to disallow natural justice to take place – in this case a fresh state elections. It is not a question of magnanimity or losing one’s face. All these are immaterial and beside the point.
It is the well-being and future of the rakyat which is of utmost importance and priority and deserve urgent and immediate action. The rakyat had made their wishes and aspirations known through numerous surveys and polls. The ball is at the leaders and, in particular, the royalty’s courts.
Keeping silent and passive about the whole issue is not an option.
All could see that the ruling BN-UMNO government is up to no good. This is the general perception and consensus, if they ever cared to know. The abuse and exhaustion of all avenues viz. the government machinery and apparatus, the courts, the police, MACC, the royal household’s unbridled favour and even lower ranked government servants to wrest control of and maintain the hold onto the state government is indeed absurd and abhorrent. They have stooped far too low, abysmal in fact, that the people have begun to feel uncomfortable, marginalised, cheated and disrespected.
Events of the past few days and weeks do not reflect well on the maturity and intentions of the leadership, especially on BN-UMNO’s side. The PR opposition had literally been bullied and pushed to a corner by BN-UMNO’s abuse of government machinery and perhaps even financial instruments.
No where can one find the police, anti-corruption agency and the courts interfere in the affairs and functions of the legislative arm of the government. No where can one find lower ranked public servants refusing the speaker and elected representatives and excos from entering the premises of the assembly house. Yet such was the case in Perak. If there were no interference and orders from the executive arm, such anomaly and illegal acts would not and could not have happened at all.
Even as such acts are against the provisions of the laws and constitutions, they seem to be legalised and interpreted to favour the ruling BN-UMNO government. Such is the state of anarchy in Perak.
The opposition seems forever the bullied and suppressed party at UMNO’s behest.
The claim of upholding the rule of law and democratic practices and principles no longer hold. Under such circumstance, the rakyat and opposition parties have no choice but to exert resistance and voice their dissent and to call for the mandate to be returned rightfully to them.
The situation in Perak is in utter mess and heading further south. The cries of the rakyat cannot be ignored further and must be attended to without further delay.
#39 by taiking on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 6:34 pm
Holding another election is of course wasting money to umno. How much money they have to dish out to secure support? And there is the umno party election coming up. That also needs money. And several by-elections around the country. Where to find all the money to buy support. Economy not good. Just got government to pay subsidy to umno toll companies. At this time increase road toll is of course of a no-no. So umno government must pay subsidy under profit guarantee clause. Even that need to take some time. Here want money there want money. But here cannot find money and there cannot find money. How? What to do? Want re-election some more? If dont want re-election then no choice. Sabotage lah. Make all sorts of excuses lah. Kangaroo lah. Kataks lah. Ah never mind. All ok. Say yes and no at the same time lah. If still not ok then find some victim to attack. Attach karpal. Like in parliament. Maybe stop him at home and create havoc. Bring 200 people and make a lot of noise. ….
The thoughts of a typical umnoputra – Mr Tuan Rempit McBully.
#40 by Bobster on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 6:37 pm
Come on, why BN so scare of fresh election?
People of Perak reject the 4 kataks … just call for fresh election, period!
Malulah Najis.
#41 by Bobster on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 6:42 pm
Whole nation is watch!
We Perakian cant wait to go back for election.
Once and for all kick out the Head of UMNO Perak. Hey the fello from Pahang, why the scumbag here making a mess out of our beloved state?!
#42 by ekans on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 7:22 pm
I agree with ksham that Tengku Razaleigh should seek an audience with HRH Sultan of Perak in order to express his opinions, not only as a member of Malay royalty, but also as an experienced politician.
If HRH the Sultan does consent to dissolve the Perak state legislative assembly in order to make way for a fresh state election, I believe the people will not see it as a sign of weakness in the royal house. Instead, they will see it as the action of a just and fair monarch who puts the interests of the people first.
And, as for those who still think that an election would cost too much money, it’s sad that they have decided to put a price on democracy, which would mean that they are willing to live under the yoke of totalitarian dictatorship if the price is right…
#43 by mauriyaII on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 7:43 pm
At least there is ONE sane voice among the UMNO/BN lawmakers. My hats off to Ku Li for not sucking up to the BN goons. At least he has the intergrity to speak up for the people when the laws are bent willy-nilly for political expediency.
What baffles me is the ‘elegant silence’ of HRH Sultan Azlan Shah. Why is he, one of the most erudite legal minds in the country, unwilling to rectify an obvious mistake?
[deleted]
#44 by mauriyaII on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 7:45 pm
errata: decre should be decree
#45 by limkamput on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 8:17 pm
Kasim Amat, i am so sorry. I did not know until now you are more stupid than i thought. More appropriately, you are a stupid caveman.
#46 by Onlooker Politics on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 8:56 pm
The following article represents the much more balanced view of a Monarch as different from the disputable view of “Ketuanan Melayu” as an occultic political belief being always preached by the Umno racists. The Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail, certainly is a Monarch who deserves much more love and respect from we the Malaysian people than the other racist fanatics who are the trouble-makers of Malaysia. Please read on ….
Dignity of rulers must be protected, says Raja Of Perlis
Written by Bernama
Thursday, 05 March 2009 15:42
KANGAR: The Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail, said the dignity of the Malay rulers needed to be protected at a time when issues that touched on the power of the rulers and the social contract were being raised.
He said the rulers had a role of protecting all citizens of this country regardless of race, religion and political affiliation, and this noble role should be preserved.
Opening a special seminar on the Federal Constitution organised by the state government here today, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin said of late there were groups questioning the social contract which had actually contributed to the country achieving independence in 1957.
He said the social contract which aimed at ensuring racial harmony was not in the form of a document to show as proof, but it definitely existed.
“I believe that if we can appreciate and understand it (social contract), those with vested interest and their narrow agenda, by playing up sensitive issues, will fail to achieve their aim.”
Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin said the country’s independence was the result of prevailing racial harmony, with Islam as the official religion and the Malay rulers having the duty of preserving racial understanding, which was referred to as the social contract.
“The commitment to establishing an independent nation came from the close cooperation of the Malay rulers and community and political leaders who received the people’s mandate.
“The different races, on the other hand, must build understanding and respect each other’s rights as part of the social contract,” the Perlis Raja added before about 500 senior state government officials and heads of departments and agencies.
However, he lamented that of late, various quarters with vested interest had given their own interpretation of the social contract from a narrow perspective to serve their own agenda.
He said their action had caused uneasiness among the public.
“The social contract is explicitly and implicitly interpreted in the Federal Constitution.
“It does not just contain the supreme law of the country, but the Constitution also manifests the hopes and aspirations of the people which are for the nation to fulfil,” Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin said.
He also said that “all the races are the masters of this country and they are free to practise any religion without hurting the other religions.”
Former Appeals Court judge Datuk Mohd Noor Abdullah gave a closed-door talk at the seminar, which was organised with the cooperation of the National Civics Bureau. — Bernama
#47 by distantmalay on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 10:38 pm
though TRH may speak sense, but he is alone in a party who don’t.
#48 by distantmalay on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 10:39 pm
though TRH may speak sense, but he is alone in a party [that] don’t.
#49 by the reds on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 11:22 pm
Support Pakatan Rakyat! Fight until the end! Fight habis-habisan!
#50 by waterfrontcoolie on Friday, 6 March 2009 - 11:53 pm
Gentlemen, please ignore cintanegara and Kasim asmat, they live in caves! out of touch with any semblance of rationality. They will keep on repeating the senseless ideas without even knowing them.
#51 by chengho on Saturday, 7 March 2009 - 12:05 am
Tunku Razaleigh should join Ibrahim Ali becoming independent MP or replace Anwar as the facto leader of PR ( pakatan or perosak rakyat? )
#52 by passerby on Saturday, 7 March 2009 - 12:42 am
TRH speaks from his mouth and the racist umno leaders speak through their ass. That’s the difference.
#53 by taiking on Saturday, 7 March 2009 - 1:47 pm
Chengho said to let Ku Li join pakatan. No. let Ku Li remain where he is and be a perosak umno. All perosak umno are friends of the people. Let him stay there.