Pakatan leaders at a press conference in the State Government complex around noon – Photo by Kinta Kid (Click to expand)
Back to work: Nizar and his exco team along with Speaker V Sivakumar at the MB’s office this morning
Updates from various contacts and media sources:
1837: Pakatan lawyers are working on trying to set aside the Court of Appeals’ stay decision, which was made by a single judge.
1836: Looking at it from another angle, another KL-based political analyst says events over the last few days have exposed the rot in various institutions. Yesterday’s High Court ruling offered these institutions a chance for them to redeem themselves, but it was an opportunity lost.
1814: “This is a mess of the BN’s own making,” says a veteran KL-based political commentator. “If it continues along this path, the BN government will only lose further legitimacy, which could result in their losing the next general election.”
Perhaps that is why a string of establishment or pro-BN figures such as Tengku Razaleigh and the Suhakam chairman are calling for more rational, sober action. They can see clearly what is coming. Take for instance Gerakan secretary-general Teng Chang Yeow: “While the Barisan Nasional leadership maintains that our focus now is on the economy, how can we do so effectively if the Perak situation keeps on worsening and generating negative perception and reaction from the people?”
Indeed, the BN is likely to pay a heavy electoral price as a result of its actions – and that explains its great reluctance to go for fresh polls.
1725: “People here are just fed up with what’s going on,” says one Ipoh-based journalist. They want a fresh state election, but they are being denied that.
1554: Ngeh announces that the suspension of the State Secretary and State Legal Adviser remains valid as the Court of Appeal stay was granted after the suspension order issued by the MB.
Earlier, The Edge reports Nizar as saying he and Raja Nazrin did not speak about the Perak impasse and court decisions during this morning’s investiture ceremony. Nizar said they spoke about “general life and weather”. Nizar is also reported as saying he will go into the MB’s office to resume his duties.
1541: Aliran president P Ramakrishnan comments:
Let’s not forget the two issues that had brought about the chaos and uncertainty: the unethical crossovers and the unfortunate refusal to dissolve the Perak State Assembly. These two issues invalidated the mandate of the Perakians and robbed them of their choice of government.
The only sane and sensible thing to undo the damage and bring calm and stability to Perak is to go back to the people to settle this issue once and for all. Let the people decisively decide who should form the government.
There is no other option.
But what to do… Zambry and company are obviously too afraid to face the people in fresh elections.
1528: Nizar is now giving a press conference at the DAP office. He says the Court of Appeal decision raises more questions instead of solving the Perak crisis. The people’s interest must come first, he adds.
1447: Nizar and his exco team leave the State Government building and walk towards the DAP office across the road, about a 100 metres from the Democracy Tree. Nizar greets well-wishers around the DAP office as a crowd gathers around him.
1439: The game of musical chairs continues. After waiting for their lawyers’ advice, Pakatan leaders have decided to leave their offices at the State Government complex in view of the Court of Appeal’s decision. “Popular hope that Malaysians can see a return of confidence in the independence of the judiciary is shattered in less than 24 hours,” says Lim Kit Siang. “How sad and tragic.”
1320: Zambry gets stay order; he wants to resume work as MB. It’s back to square one. The court sitting was originally scheduled for 2.30pm. Only a single Court of Appeal judge, Ramly Mohd Ali, heard the application. Now everyone will have to wait until the court fixes a date for the appeal proper. Blog reader R G Candiah is amazed at the Court of Appeal’s speed in hearing Zambry’s application for a stay:
I only wish that the courts act like this in all cases, super fast and super efficient. I am intrigued why in some cases, it takes months or even years, when, in the above situation and case, it only took several hours for a panel to be set up.
1253: Still no news on Nizar’s request for an audience with the Sultan to seek the dissolution of the Assembly.
1249: Ganesan has denied a web report that the BN is considering an emergency sitting of the Perak State Assembly to pass a vote of no-confidence against Nizar, according to Idham Lim.
1230: Press conference ends. Ngeh is still locked out of his room as his PA has gone to the palace in Kuala Kangsar to receive a pingat!
1215: Zambry and his team should return the salaries they have drawn over the last three months, says Ngeh, adding that the 7 May State Assembly sitting was invalid (The Star).
1145: The Court of Appeal in Putrajaya begins hearing Zambry’s application for a stay.
1134: Nizar is still at the Istana; so Ngeh is speaking at the press conference now. He announces the following:
- All 342 councillors in 14 local councils to be sworn in by tomorrow.
- 817 village heads to be reinstated.
- Ipoh Central Bus project to proceed as planned
- Sultan Azlan Shah airport to resume flights as soon as possible
- All vacancies in the Perak government will be filled up immediately
- Land office instructed to issue freehold titles
- Parking fees to be reduced t0 30 sen
- Premier University to launch in July 2009
- Sukan Perak cancelled this year; allocation to be channelled to district sports events
1130: Zambry’s application to the Court of Appeal for a stay of the High Court ruling yesterday is due to be heard now.
1128: Zambry reminds his blog readers that the Federal Court had found that the suspensions of himself and his “exco” team were not valid:
Bekas speaker V. SIvakumar pula seperti “buta undang-undang” mendakwa keputusan mahkamah tinggi semalam, mengatasi keputusan mahkamah Persekutuan yang mengistiharkan penggantungan saya serta enam exco sebagai tidak sah.
Padahal, Mahkamah Persekutuan mengatasi keputusan mahkamah Tinggi. Ini adalah antara contoh manipulasi yang dibuat oleh pakatan pembangkang.
Mereka hanya menerima keputusan undang-undang yang menyebelahi mereka dan menolak keputusan yang tidak bersama mereka. Inilah “selective justice” yang diamalkan oleh pembangkang.
1119: The press conference gets underway after journalists are allowed in.
1118: The letters of suspension of the State Secretary and the State Legal Adviser have been pinned up on notice boards around the State Secretariat building.
1110: The press are still barred from entering.
1100: All exco members, some party members and supporters are gathering at the MB’s office for the press conference.
1058: Journalists are crowding around the gate to the State Secretariat building as the press conference is due to begin at 11.00am. But the guards on duty say they will only open the gates at 11.00am.
1045: Zambry’s application for a stay, rejected by the High Court yesterday, could be heard today by the Court of Appeal, reports The Edge.
1034: Journalists are gearing up for a press conference at the State Secretariat building scheduled for 11.00am.
0950: Nizar is now at the Istana attending the investiture ceremony. He is expected to be seated in the Menteri Besar’s seat in the Balai Rong Seri, where the medals are to be awarded by Raja Nazrin. The audience with the Sultan has not yet been scheduled.
0946: Exco member Tai Sin Ng cannot get into his room either as Hamidah has not yet vacated it. He is stuck in the reception area.
0927: The MB’s secretary’s room is bare except for chairs and tables. All files are also missing. Not again!
0924: State exco members are now entering their rooms – except for Thomas Su and Seah Leong Peng, whose rooms are still locked. Their PAs are not around either.
0920: Zambry files appeal against the High Court ruling at the KL High Court registry. He has also filed a stay application against yesterday’s High Court decision at the Court of Appeal.
0911: State Exco member for Local Government Nga Kor Ming has instructed Zakuan, who is the Ketua Penolong SUK (Chief Assistant State Secretary), to appoint all 342 local councillors with immediate effect. They are expected to be sworn in by tomorrow. (Pakatan must still restore local council elections pronto!)
Some of the FRU personnel outside have started leaving.
0901: A press conference is expected to be held in the State Secretariat building at 11.00am, but the media are still locked out.
0825: Exco members are still locked out of their offices. They are waiting in the MB’s office.
0823: Exco member Thomas Su goes to his office but it is locked. His PA is not there either.
0820: Nizar’s aide has delivered a letter at the Istana regarding Nizar’s wish to seek an audience with the Sultan.
0815: Letters of suspension are served on the State Secretary and the State Legal Adviser.
0803: Nizar has left for the Istana for his first official function, the investiture ceremony at 8.30am. He is expected to put in a request for an audience with the Sultan.
Two highlighter pens, two staplers, staples, a pen-holder, some note paper: Menteri Besar yang sah Nizar at his bare desk this morning
Nizar gets past the front gate – Photo courtesy of Idham Lim
0753: Suspension letters are in the process of being served to the State Secretary and the State Legal Adviser at their respective offices in the State Secretariat.
0751: Exco members are still waiting for their keys. With them are Perak Speaker V Sivakumar and Ipoh Barat MP Kulasegaran
0747: The exco members are waiting in the MB’s office for the keys to their respective offices.
0745: The MB’s office is empty except for some stationery.
0741: They are greeted by civil servants and then enter the MB’s office.
0739: Nizar and the exco members are allowed into the building!
0738: They are stopped by police on the instruction of the suspended state secretary.
0735: Nizar arrives and walks with his exco members tothe State Secretariat building.
0733: Pakatan Rakyat exco members are gathering near the Democracy Tree to return to their rightful offices at the State Secretariat. Waiting for Nizar.
Nizar and his exco are expected to report for duty at the state government complex at 7.15am.
Meanwhile, a source tells me the police are expected to maintain their cordon around the Perak state government building for the next six days, possibly under a court injunction.
The BN is expected to file an appeal today.
A jubilant Nizar acknowledges the cheers of supporters yesterday – Photo courtesy of Harakah Daily
The historic State Assembly proceedings under the Democracy Tree on 3 March 2009
Zambry supposedly holds a PhD from Temple University (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) in Political Science (Political Theory).
No doubt he learned about democracy, rule of law etc. while he was there. I think his Temple University political science professors
would be very disappointed with him!
I guess the “BN University of Machiavelleian Politics” trumps
Temple University anytime.
Ahh … there’s also the other BN politician
who says his doctoral dissertation is “merely an academic exercise”.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
The BeEnd did not run this country for 52 years. They RUINED this country for 52 years.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Zambry…you can go fly a big kite. your suspension was passed by the privilege committee….not by Siva….so now who is buta????
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Latest update from Putrajaya….appeal heard. zAmbry takes control of perak. Nizar and Co asked to leave. Decision cannot be appealed further
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Gantangian, the appeal is scheduled to be heard at 11.30am 11 minutes later, you posted the decision. This must be the fastest appeal in the world if true. No other online news portal has posted this. If you are pulling things from thin air, please refrain from misleading readers.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
In the long run, nothing can go against the will of the rakyat and still come out a winner. Makkal Saathi!!!
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Dear Anil and other Progressive Malaysians
Have you read the words of this noble, self-sacrifing man of the people?? (Or is it simply a bad case of delusions of grandeur?)
***********************
(The Star) – Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir, whose nearly three-month tenure as mentri besar 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.
“To me, losing the mentri besar post will not reduce my fighting spirit in upholding the truth.
If reinstated Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin and his “friends … assume that the High Court’s decision will dampen my spirit, then they have read me wrong,” he said in a blog entry early Tuesday morning.
He said a person did not need to hold a post in his struggle to uphold the truth, and likened the recent struggles faced by him and his “comrades from the Barisan Nasional” to those endured by politicians like Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi.
“Nelson Mandela sacrificed his freedom for 27 years in order to free South Africans from the grip of ‘apartheid.’
“Gandhi also sacrificed his life for the sake of India’s independence and so his people would be able to live without caste or religious boundaries,” he said.
******************************
COMMENT: Hahahahahaha! Welcome to Bolehland! (where corruption = “money politics”, fanning of social divisions = “1Malaysia”,
pro-BN Indian Muslim = “Malay” etc etc. George Orwell would have had a field day writing political satire about Bolehland)
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
As I have said before, haste is needed by Pakatan to launch a suit against Hee Yit Foong for illegally usurping the powers of the Speaker of the House. Let her bring her feeble Article 32(a) of the Perak State Constitution defense to court and watch as the defense lawyers shred her to pieces.
In light of the recent Court of Appeals lightning fast stay of execution against the High Court’s decision today, we must now go all out to reinstate Sivakumar as the Speaker of the House and that can be achieved by declaring Hee Yit Foong’s actions as unconstitutional.
Najib and Zambry may be overjoyed with the Court of Appeals ruling, but the people of Perak and Malaysia are not stupid. As Najib said last night, now we say it back to him “jangan terlalu teruja”.
As for Zambry asking Nizar to vacate the office, Pakatan should comply. However Zambry “Mandela-Gandhi” Kadir should not be too presumptuous as to assume that he is now the Menteri Besar of Perak. In effect, the ruling has plunged Perak into a state without a legitimate state government, Menteri Besar and Speaker of the House.
This is because the High Court has ruled that at all material times Nizar was, is and will be the legitimate Menteri Besar of Perak. The Court of Appeals has only granted an injunction against the rulings of the High Court. Therefore, the legality of Zambry “Mandela-Gandhi” Kadir’s position has not yet been decided by the courts.
As for the Attorney General’s assertions that the state assembly secretary cannot be suspended by the state government because he is a federal appointee may be true. But the state assembly secretary has broken the law and ignored the separation of powers and went against the Perak State Constitution. That alone is grounds for immediate dismissal. Or is the Attorney General saying that we should let unelected and unaccountable civil servants run the state government without having to pay heed to the legitimate state government as well as the people of the state?
Pakatan Rakyat and its supporters would do well not to oppose the Court of Appeals rulings. Show Barisan Nasional that we are not hypocrites. Although in our deepest of hearts we know that truth and the people’s power is far greater… And that is why Barisan Nasional and specifically Najib “1Malaysia” Razak and Zambry “Mandela-Gandhi” Kadir are cowards and do not have the guts to face Pakatan Rakyat in the highest court of the land – the court of the people i.e. elections.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Dear all,
Let us now refer to Zambry as Zambry “Mandela-Gandhi” Kadir from now on. Let us mock this little man who thinks that he is in the same league as legends.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
KIM!!!!!! What did I say? Wasn’t I right…Come on-lah… I am the fastest to get the news…. Undestand???
P/S: CHECK OUT THE 5TH AND 6TH COMMENT ABOVE THIS COMMENT AND YOU’LL KNOW WHAT WAS THE ARGUMENT BETWEEN THE ACCURATE GANTANGIAN AND THE WRONG KIM!!!!
WILL KEEP EVRYONE UPDATED …..SIGNING OFF TO HAVE A CHAT WITH NIZAR IN IPOH
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
We must beware of spin coming from certain quarters (a retired politician) saying new elections are unnecessary because the result will reflect the current status quo and lead to instability again. I beg to differ.
I believe that if fresh election are held now in Perak, Pakatan has a very good chance of winning Perak by a better margin than previously. The seats of the three frogs and the seat of the sole MCA man is within easy reach.
UMNO has to resort to this spin to give themselves a plausible excuse to refuse new elections. Day by day the call for new elections grows stronger from all quarters in Malaysia. UMNO does not know how to dig itself out of the mess yet.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
[...] original here: Perak: Zambry frustrates hopes for fresh polls anilnetto-com, court, General, istana, judiciary, latin-america, nizar, people, perak, [...]
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Nizar had the whole morning today and he even met the Regent.
Any idea why all he did was speak about the weather?
Why didn’t he request the dissolution of the Assembly?
Is there any special protocol associated with it?
Any why wait until today to draft the letter? He and his lawyers had the whole last night.(U can bet the BN lawyers worked thru the nite to arrange for that superfast Court of Appeal sitting today.)
Nizar keeps saying , “dalam masa tersingkat”, “secepat mungkin” and then ‘slumber aje!’.
One very small window of opportunity – now, LOST.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
First, Obama. Now Mandela, Gandhi. Oops, different personalities keep popping up. He’s a schizophrenic (with apologies to the mentally-challenged).
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Please Zambry do not insult great men like Mandela and Gandhi by comparing yourself to them.
If you think you have the Perak people’s support, hold by election ASAP. Why don’t you just do that?
The next time you speak, make sure that your foot is not in it.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Could it be that Raja Nazrin just do not have the powers today to dissolve the State Assembly? Could his father be coming back from the US too soon, that it would be unlawful to act? Any idea?
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Jason, I hope u are right and that is the reason.
I just rather believe than Nizar didn’t get a chance to ask, than believe than he did ask.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
SARAH & JASON. DO U THINK THE PAKATAN COMPANY IS SO IGNORANT AND SLUMBER?? HAHA THEN U MIGHT AS WELL BE THE MENTRI BESAR. ACTUALLY, THE REGENT WILL ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM THESE CONTROVERSIAL DECISIONS WHEN HIS FATHER IS STILL SULTAN. SO, NO MATTER WHAT, EVEN IF NIZAR ASKED HIM, HE WILL SAY.. WAIT TILL THE SULTAN COMES BACK AS PERAK IS STILL GOVERNED BY HIM. SO WHATS THE USE OF GETTING INTO AN ARGUMENT WITH THE REGENT?? MIGHT AS WELL JUST TALK ABOUT THE WEATHER AND BE NICE TO HIM AS HE MIGHT JUST RECOMMEND TO HIS FATHER TO DISSOLVE THE ASSEMBLY. DAULAT TUANKU!! HIDUP PERAK!!
P/S: PLEASE DONT MAKE STUPID STATEMENTS AS IF YOU GUYS KNOW THE LAW AND ARE INVOLVED IN POLITICS. JUST WATCH US DO THE THINGS.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Regarding the current Perak situation, it seems to me the fight between Nizar and Zambry is equivalent to the battle between the Chu and Han Kingdom to reunite China more than 2000 years ago after the Qin dynasty collapse. The battle drag for about 5 years and civilian suffer. Initially the Chu kingdom is more superior and won many battles against the Han. The Chu seems to be invincible to the weaker Han but eventually Han won the War and establish a strong Han Dynasty that last for more than 400 years. In general, the reason for this ultimate victory is that the Han Emperor had the support from people while the Chu King warrior rule their subjects in an authoritarian manner similar to the previous Emperor of Qin (Qin Shihuangdi – 1st emperor of China).
Therefore i strongly believe if this issue is not solve ASAP by BN and Zambry continues to use other methods other than dissolving the state assembly to capture Perak, eventually he will win more battles (in number) but loss the WAR and end up like the Chu King as he fail to capture the hearts of Perakians. If Nizar and team hv faith and courageously continue their struggle to Win in a correct manner (leave to the people to decide), as the time lapse, they will win more and more Perakians to their side. Indirectly, the Perakians is still the one that will decide their own faith and Nizar and team will emerge to create a stronger state govt that will never before witness by Malaysians. The PR will benefit from this situation later as Perak may serve as a role model for Malaysians in other state.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
it’s 18th of May to hear Nizar !!
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
HRH is back at 2pm for abang’s funeral : NO CHOICE !!
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0