PUTRAJAYA, 6 Feb 2009: Umno Youth head Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein today described former Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin’s refusal to resign, despite being ordered to by the Sultan of Perak, as unconstitutional.
“I think it is a matter of the constitution and the law, and how you treat your rulers.
“They have always been saying that the rulers and the institution of rulers must be respected, and to do what they (Pakatan Rakyat) have done is really going against what they have been saying in the past,” Hishammuddin, who is also the Education Minister, told reporters when asked to comment on the matter, here today.
Earlier, he launched the Education Ministry’s Customer Service and handed over financial aid to the Parent-Teacher’s Association.
The Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah yesterday ordered Mohammad Nizar and the state executive councillors to resign with immediate effect as they no longer had the majority in the state legislative assembly.
Mohammad Nizar, however, refused to do so as he considered himself as the holder of the post legally according the Perak Constitution and the Federal Constitution.
Hishammuddin said with the appointment of Barisan Nasional’s Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir as the new Perak Menteri Besar, the ministry could continue with the education agenda in the state, which had been affected to a certain extent by the political crisis.
“In the post-cabinet meeting just now, we also decided to get down on the ground and assist the new state government,” he added.
Meanwhile in KOTA BARU, Umno vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said Mohammad Nizar should respect the decision made by Sultan Azlan Shah to end the political conflict in Perak.
He said the former Perak Menteri Besar’s boldness in going against the Sultan and wanting to challenge the Ruler in court was most regrettable and one that should not be taken lightly.
Muhyiddin, who is also International Trade and Industry Minister, said this to reporters after performing the Friday prayer at Masjid Kadok, in Kota Baru. He is in Kelantan on a one-day visit to the state.
Commenting further, he said everyone should respect the decision of the Sultan of Perak as His Highness was a former Lord President and was very knowledgeable in law.
“It’s his (Mohammad Nizar’s) right as well as that of the Pakatan Rakyat if they want to challenge the Sultan [in court] but we, in the Barisan Nasional (BN), respect the decision made by the Sultan of Perak that the state legislative assembly is not dissolved and a new Menteri Besar appointed with a new state government formed under the BN,” he said. — Bernama
Eric says
BTW, Muhyiddin, what did you just say about anti-hopping laws (http://www.thenutgraph.com/muhyiddin-supports-anti-hop-law)? Sudah lupa ke? You look as good a future DPM as Najib does.
As to Hisham and his understanding of the constitution, the less said, the better.