Asia Sentinel

Crisis erupts in Perak state over who controls the statehouse

Any hope that Malaysia's political situation would stabilize with the April selection of Najib Tun Razak as prime minister appeared to be dimming this week with the arrest of at least four individuals, one a political reformer who was charged with sedition, and with restiveness growing in the northern state of Perak.

Wong Chin Haut, a spokesman for the reform group Bersih (Clean) was arrested at his home Tuesday night in Kuala Lumpur after calling a press conference earlier in the day to urge the public to wear black Wednesday to protest the takeover of what was then the opposition-held Perak state government in February after Najib persuaded three assembly members to quit the opposition coalition amid charges that their allegiance had been bought.

On Wednesday, Parti Islam se-Malaysia vice president Mohamad Sabu, Parti Keadilan Rakyat Youth Leader Badrul Hisham and another unnamed activist were arrested as well. It isn't known what they were charged with. Local media reported that Mohamad Sabu had publicly announced he would seek to hold mass prayers of the PAS followers in Ipoh over the Perak state assembly sitting.

One UMNO insider in Kuala Lumpur told Asia Sentinel that he didn't expect large numbers of rank and file members of the United Malays National Organization to show up in Perak, although Mohamad's prayer session was expected to draw large numbers.

"I think the PAS people with Quran in hand will lie on the streets and protest but I don't think the Barisan people will be out in droves," he said.

It may well be that both of the opposing factions in the assembly will attempt to physically occupy the seats overnight to keep their opposite numbers from doing so, he added.

The burgeoning crisis stems from a standoff in Perak, where the opposition leader, Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin, refused to give up his office in November last year despite being ordered to by Sulan Raja Azlan Shah, the state's titular head, who dissolved the assembly and designated Zambry Abdul Kadir, an UMNO stalwart, as the new chief minister.

The parliamentary standoff has been adding to tension ever since despite the fact that in a March by-election, Nizar, the head of Perak's Islam-based Parti Islam se-Malaysia, cleaned Zambry's clock. Nizar's victory, viewed as a barometer for anti-Barisan feeling in the state after Najib's tactics in persuading the three opposition members to change sides, dealt a major propaganda blow to the Barisan and raised the pressure to preserve the opposition's hegemony in the statehouse. The sultan, refusing to be intimidated, recently named Zambry a datuk, a government honorific.

In addition to seeking to keep the Barisan from taking over the statehouse as a result of the sultan's decree, the opposition is also calling for a new state election to end the standoff. However, after having lost the by-election so decisively, Najib views calling a new election as untenable.

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If Sultan is Chinese or Indian.......
written by Samy , September 17, 2009

May be tomorrow there will be Chinese or Indian Sultan. So you will happy....

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Sultan must serve the rakyat fairly
written by Dato Michael Wong , May 31, 2009

After creating this fiacos, the Sultan of Perak have just kept quiet. He now does not want to be involved in the politics of the state. Please wake up and do the right thing now.

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Najib and UMNO cannot work for Malaysians or Malaysia
written by Frank Sinatami Sinatara , May 15, 2009

During the British occupation of Malaya, we had oppressive laws created by our colonial masters not only as a check against communism but also Malaysians generally.When you are a colony, laws protecting citizens are unimportant-laws protecting the colonial masters are important.

After the so called great Independence and Merdeka, we have the same people who purportedly bravely fought against the British sitting ruling Malaysians.Now common sense would suggest that they would start having open transparents newspapers, strong laws enforcing the Rule Of Law, stringent laws for corruption, good Police, anti-corruption, excellent civil service,good schools, universities etc etc-to Malaysian utter dismay-we have now
(a) UMNO who runs and calls all the shots for the past 50 odd years without any public participation.It has created Malaysia which is neither a" functioning democracy" or a "functioning dictatorship" but a tottering state structure controlled and exploited by parasites".( I am quoting of course) UMNO is filled with vampire type politicians who are sucking the blood of hardworking enterprenuers who are usually of Chinese origin who pay them for licenses and they happily in reurn are entertaine with "dancing girls and cash".

(b) Besides (a) above-UMNO is a RACIST ORGANISATION. It spares no abuse on Chinese and Indians who are citizens of this country.It threatens other races, plots and schemes how it can underdevelop the Chinese and Malay population.This is the direct result of the creation of the NEP.The NEP makes Indians and Chinese children poorer,less educated and suffer more generally.It is racism that is the policy of UMNO.It thrives in corruption and has a policy that undermines democracy in Malaysia.

(c) The UMNO policy of Segreation is the most dangerous of all.All young Malay youth are being told about this fairy tale story of "Keturunan", which is a big fabrication-its like telling us that the Malay contractor put up most of the buildings in Kuala Lumpur-thie is a TIPU.A country that has a national policy of seggregation will fail.

(d) As for najib, its bad enough to be the leader of UMNO and embrace (a) to (c) above-what is worse is that he is a PM who is implicated ina MURDER and CORRUPTION. How can we have a PM with all this over him-he is not vindicated.he should have an open inquiry so that we know that our PM is not above the Law.

So stay by the opposition and Boot these BUGGERS Off!

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A People-Friendly Second Best Solution Should Be Considered
written by Jeremiah , May 15, 2009

An open letter to the leaders of Pakatan Rakyat and Barisan Nasional:

The present political stalemate in Perak can only be resolved with creative, new solutions which are rakyat friendly. Otherwise, the reluctance by one of you (Najib) to agree to fresh elections will see the issue go back and forth between the courts and counter appeals, etc.

Barring a fresh election, both your parties should work together (or cooperate if you like) to prove to Perakians that the people's welfare is a HIGHER priority than partisanship.

The rakyat should and is the final employer assessing which candidate to employ.

But if two rival candidates refuse to work together, the employer(rakyat) should give them a choice: either you cooperate for my benefit or you both don't get the job. In such a stalemate, Perakians can afford to bear the loss of being ungoverned and wait for the next GE to decide. Perhaps by then, both parties will come to their senses or there will be a third party that can offer better governance.

Of course, the ideal solution is for snap elections to be held but that option is currently a roadblock for BN as it would be quite certain to lose.

And please, in the talks between both of your alliances, do not reject outright any proposals for power-sharing if it is the second best solution to serve the people's interests.

The whole of Malaysia and the world is watching how you both navigate the state out of this mess with a new creative solution that is approved by Perakians. Conduct Internet polls or surveys among the people to get feedback on the second best solution. Get the media/bloggers involved as an objective third party.

As Deng Hsiao Peng once said, it does not matter that the cat is black or white as long as it catches mice. Looking at recent developments (notwithstanding the national shame of the violent removal of the Speaker Sivakumar on 7 May), both of your parties seem to be more concerned about who gets to be called the official MB and occuplying the state secretariat than in catching real mice.

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...
written by Thirusethuraman , May 12, 2009

I don't understand Malaysian people. Do they know that the sultan or whatever these so called donkeyholes are bastards? They were traitors, pirates, scumbags, trailer trash, low life dirt’s, pigs, donkeyholes, anak haram, celaka, babi hutan, satan kanamachibai, you name it, and they are one of them. They prostituted themselves for money. They were the reason Malaysia to fall under the British rule. Any yet these Malaysian people worship these celakas. They should burn them alive and scream daulat tuanku, ampun tuanku. Patik minta tuanku cium punggung aku yang busuk dan jilat tahi yang masih sekat dalam lubang patik. Malaysia will be doom for rest of life if they don't get ride off these leeches. Blood sucking vampires. Destroy them. Burn them, burn them.
Today, Zambry comparing himself to Ghandhi. You mother fcuker. How dare you use Ghandhi as a comparison? My blood was boiling when I read that. What a bloody fool. Come I’ll fcuk you with a bamboo. I’ll stick it through that it comes out through your mouth. Anak haram, celaka, babi. Kepala penuh dengan tahi babi. Takada otak punya satan. Mampuslah di neraka.

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Start A Movement to Remove the Monarchies
written by Solaiman , May 10, 2009

We should start a movement to remove the Monarchies.like what Nepalis did to their useless king. Nine monarchies in Malaysia is costing the tax payers a lot lot of money. And it is not money well spent.

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He could have been the most revered Sultan
written by Milton Yap , May 10, 2009

Looking back at the events of last few months and particularly those of last week, I put all the blame on Sultan Azlan Shah.

All that happened--- the court challenges, the despicable dragging of the Speaker of the Assembly, and use of police--COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. It has wasted a lot of resources while rampat crimes of the Mat (Mad) Rempits (Motor cycle gangs) go about snatching handbags, resulting in deaths of citizens. The police can use hundreds of personnel to stop peaceful demonstrations. However, there seem to be no organistion carried out by the police to reduce crime. Many of my friend have not even bother to make a police report as they will not entertain such report any more.

If from the start, the Sultan had insisted that the BN put the matter to a vote of no confidence in Nizar, the matter would have been resolved. The Sutlan would have been even a more revered figure in the nation. He was already one of the highly respected and revered figure, having been head of the judiciary. I have read his judgements and he is one of the most hardworking judges writing down voluminous amounts of his judgment. However, he has with a simple stroke destroyed it all. Not only that, his son, the Raja Muda (Crown Prince) was also becoming a very eminent figure. He had been forcefully propunding the need for rule of law. Unfortunately, now, no one believe Raja Dr. Nazrin any more.

Why was the BN so reluctant to put the matter to a vote of no confidence. Is it becasue they had no confidence in the three defectors?. Perhaps, the rewards offered were contingent upon successfully wresting power and the BN does not have complete confidence in the three running dogs? I still do not understand. Perhaps, Najib should explain. And the mindless royalty was dragged into this. And the mindless royatly is asking for immunity for fear of "what goes around comes around".

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Malaysia political sentiments rachets up
written by Tulan Chin , May 10, 2009

Sound the trumpet, the malaysian circus has come to town. Starring the perak sultan as chief clown supported by thugs from umno. God bless malaysia and good luck ,a malaysian republic is already on the way

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Hold your tongues ye all
written by Captain Blackbeard , May 08, 2009

If ye all keep on condemning the sultan, I'll find it hard to recruit any one. They will be so afraid to be seen with me, let alone be part of my gang of brigands, murderers and rapists. I did not come here to be a good boy. I have been awaiting all these 250 years to be finally where I will find myself most at ease. Ah! What a gang of pirates. Where were you all these years? If I had all of ye, I would have conquered the West Indies AND the East Indies as well. Well it is not too late. There are so many of ye who fit my bill to the very letter. Yeah, ye all are welcome. Don't worry, I will seek ye all out. Just sign on the dotted line. Share 50-50 with all of you. Just don't screw me from the back. I know some of you like to do that. Hey, just watch out. I have got blades at me back. Those who can't wait for me, just reply to this site. I will contact you. Wow! What a great bunch of murderers, rapist and cheats. I will give my life to get this bunch. I will be back.

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Beheading
written by Rosmah , May 08, 2009

Beheading of the enemies adopted from the Islamic Militants is the new UMNO Manifesto unveiled by the empowered Mahyudin Yassin, the henchman of his boss Najib and superboss Mamakthir. With the cronyns in Biz, Judiciary and Royalty, the UMNO sought to enshrine the racist policy of the past and beheads any opponent.

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About Monarchies
written by Milton Yap , May 08, 2009

The recent example of a shamed monarchy is that of Nepal. The Nepal monarchy set themselves on the path of self-destruction. At least, he is allowed to live peacefully in Nepal. His children lives in Singapore, in desperation.

I have nothing against monarchies. In fact, good monarchies serves as a rallying factor to its citizens and is a symbol of the nation. One example is Queen Beatrice of Belgium, who cycles as a commoner and is highly loved by her people. I am just taking this as an example, not that I expect our sultans to cycle to go to the kampungs to see the rakyat. He needs a certain level of dignity to earn the respect of his people.

On the other hand, bad monarchies cause grief and harm to their citizens. Some are even living in luxurious life at the expense of their subjects. It is in the later case that they demand for immunity from criminal and civil prosecution so that they can do more extensive harm to the subjects and carry out their whims and fancies. In the 1960, there was a crown prince, whose motorcade was blocked by a businessman. He went to the nearest airfield, got into a helicopter and went on to shoot the the businessman. If they do not have any evil intentions, why is there a need for immunity? It is the fear of "what goes around, comes around"

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The Sutlan is a racist
written by Milton Yap , May 08, 2009

It goes to show that the Sultan does not believe in democracy and an inclusive approach to governing Perak. The Pakatan government is an inclusive government, with all races participating meaningfully. Now the BN is trying miserably like appointing one Chinese member to the Assembly and a Indian speaker. It shows that the Sutlan wants a Malay controlled, dominated government. As a learned ex -judge and a learned person, revealation of this aspect of his character is a national sorrow to all Malaysians.

It also shows that the Sultan is not waking up to the reality of the world of opennes, inclusive and plural political participation. By all his actions including the flip-flop of his Raja Muda (crown prince), he has but destroyed any respect the rakyat has for the monarchy. Now, the monarchy are asking for immunity from prosecution. This means there is fear within the monarchies that one day they wrongful actions will be brough to justice.

We pray and hope that the Sultan will be humbled in the next general election.

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DISGRACE
written by Son of Odhin , May 08, 2009

To the hell with so called sultans. These good-for-nothing-so-called-sultans are nothing but pirates.But atleast their ancestors who came to this land had the guts to fight and earn the land but this spineless generation of the so-called royal families are nothing but the ruling government's lapdog. Dangle RM in front of them and they will wag their tail....if anyone has a better name for them..PLEASE ENLIGHTEN ME. A disgrace for the nation...

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...
written by vsp , May 07, 2009

The Sultan of Perak who was once inducted into the Hall of Fame has descended into the Rogues' Gallery of Shame. The people had held him in high esteem and had respected the monarchy because at one time he stood for the rule of law, decent human conduct and had acted as a beacon and bulwark against the unruly encroachment of the Executive.

Along the way, the sultan has lost his vision and shine and has succumbed to the stink of money and the barbarity of raw power. He has plunged the office of the monarchy into odium and renewed sense of anachronism by collaborating against his own subjects. In fact, he is a danger to the monarchy itself.

Years ago one of his brother rulers had imperilled this august office and had nearly wiped out the rationale of maintaining the monarchy. The rulers had quaked in fear then, and had agreed to check on their own excesses and abuses.

Unfortunately, one of the brightest stars of the monarchy has turned out to be the renegade as is evident in the lastest episode of the Perak imbroglio of 2 Mentri besars, 2 Speakers and minions of an increasingly unpopular federal government usurping the powers of a legitimate state government.

The sultan would have stopped all the shenanigans by returning to the power and wisdom of the people. But he has not, and events has spiralled into a heinous display of illegalities upon illegalities. Now the people have witnessed firsthand the shameless grab of power with the use of brute force, unsavoury characters and an illegal Speaker who is not even a member of the legislature.

Sultan Azlan Shah, you are a disgrace and a mockery to the monarchy. Now that you are in the gallery of rogues you deserve to be peppered with curses and scorn.

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Pirates of the Kinta Valley
written by Milton Yap , May 07, 2009

Captain Blackbeard, you are so right. We have have Pirates of the Kinta Valley. I read the events of this morning in the Perak State Assembly. I can only get the strong feeling that this is not democracy and civilised behaviour. Worse thing, it is sanctioned by the royatly. Wong Chin Huat is right to ask us to wear black and paint our houses and whole villages black.

Since the time democracy was invented in Rome, this must be be blackest day of democracy and for mankind.

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Excuse to request for immunity
written by Milton Yap , May 07, 2009

If these royalty and their children and relative really care for the people, it is not immunity that they should be asking for. It is exactly that they want to go around beating up people, taking other assets so that they cannot be sued.

If the sit straight, walk straight and talk straight, why the need for immunity? So, it is self interest that is really the core of them asking for immunity. it will be a repeat of the 1960s and 70s, where a crown prince can go out and shoot a businessman (a rakyat for that matter) and get pardoned by his father.

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New pirates of Malaysia
written by Captain Blackbeard , May 06, 2009

What the royalty of Malaysia needs to do to get back on its feet(own feet please) is to realise that if they want immunity from the law of the land, they must first live an exclusive lifestyle,i.e. no involvement in business, no involvment in sexual affairs, no assault on other citizens and generally behave as good examples for the rest of the country. The involvement of the sultan of Perak in business and politics makes him suspect in his claim of exclusivity. If you do all these things, you must expect flak for your mistakes. The other royalties are no better. Imagine 9 sultans and their brood of good for nothing brigands! No wonder Malaysia finds it hard to be a 1st world country. The NEP is draining aways any wealth that is hard earned. Believe me, I have lived long enough to spot PIRACY in all its forms. I am renowned for this type of human and economic activity. I am making contacts with all the pirates in S.E.Asia. Then we can go round doing our piracy thing. And the government cannot do a thing about it. That's because I have already bribed the govenments and other statutory boards.

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