(Updated 9:00pm; 4 Feb 2009)
IPOH, 4 Feb 2009: Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin did not say whether Sultan Azlan Shah gave consent to the state government’s request to dissolve the state legislative assembly.
“I met the Tuanku and requested the Tuanku’s consent and the Tuanku will decide. It’s up to the Tuanku,” he told reporters outside Istana Kinta during heavy rain here where he had a two-hour audience with the Sultan today.
State Religious, Islamic Education, Women and Welfare Committee Chairperson Mohd Zainuddin Mohd Yusof and State Industrial Development and Information Committee Chairperson Tai Sing Ng also came to the palace but their cars were not allowed to enter the palace compound.
Several minutes later, senior state executive councillor Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham and Speaker V Sivakumar arrived but they too were not allowed in.
Nizar said the state government had to request the Sultan’s consent to dissolve the state assembly due to uncertainties following declarations by two Parti Keadilan Rakyat assemblypersons that they were now independent while there were talks that a DAP assemblyperson would follow suit.
Sivakumar said in a statement issued at 5pm that Hee Yit Foong had tendered an official resignation letter as Jelapang assemblyperson at 8.10am.
“I will tell the Election Commission as soon as possible to hold a by-election for N31 Jelapang in 60 days as stipulated under Article XXXVI(5) of the Perak Constitution,” he said.
Behrang assemblyperson Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi and Changkat Jering assemblyperson Mohd Osman Jailu have announced they are leaving Parti Keadilan Rakyat to become independents. It is believed that Hee, who is Deputy Speaker has also quit DAP and become an independent.
Bota assemblyperson Datuk Nasaruddin Hashim who left Barisan Nasional (BN) to join Parti Keadilan Rakyat only a week ago has returned to BN.
Following these developments, the PAS-Parti Keadilan Rakyat-DAP alliance’s majority the 59-seat state assembly drops from 32 to 28 while BN’s seats rose from 27 to 28.
This afternoon, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Najib Razak said in a press conference that BN has enough state assemblymen to form the next government as the three independent have vowed to support BN. — Bernama
Eskay says
I think His Royal Highness the Sultan of Perak should give royal consent for the Perak State Assembly to be dissolved and thence to allow for fresh elections. The Perak Govt has been embroiled with the Barisan Nasional over the “leaping frogs” and other uncertainties.
Therefore, the Perak Sultan should give the opportunity to the Perak rakyat to exercise their democratic right to elect and to choose the party they want to rule the state.
FSLAM says
The correct way for HRH Sultan to act is to dissolve the state assembly.
Since both sides are having wafer thin majority, you will never know when the next crisis will arise.The state can ill afford this type of crises.
Let the rakyat decide which coalition they want to rule Perak once and for all.
Perakian says
I trust our Royal Highness will return the power for all the people of Perak to determine their future. This cannot be valued through how much money they will spend for the State Election. Prioritise freedom of the rakyat to decide who they want to lead them.