2 Menteri Besars, 2 Party Presidents

T Murugiah - PPP President...



M Kayveas - PPP President...


15 months after the 12th. General Election, Malaysia's politics is still as hot as ever.

Most Malaysians thought the dust will settle down, after the March 2008 general election, but they were all proven wrong.

First, the shocking result of that general election itself - or better known as the political Tsunami of 2008 where the opposition defeated the mighty and powerful ruling party, the Barisan Nasional, BN in 4 states - Selangor, Perak, Kedah and Pulau Pinang.

The opposition also retained the state of Kelantan.

For the record, Selangor was once the strongest bastion of the BN, while Pulau Pinang is the home state of the then Prime Minister of Malaysia cum BN Chairman - Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

The stunning results gained by the opposition which comprises of a 3 parties pact, the Islamic party - PAS, the Democratic Action Party DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat, PKR, has shocked the world.

The BN also suffered further setback when 3 component party presidents lost - MIC President and long serving Works Minister - Datuk Seri S Sammy Vellu, People Progressive Party President - Datuk M Kayveas and Gerakan President - Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon.

For the first time ever, the BN also lost the two third majority in Parliament but still remains in power, thanks to the solid performance of the party in 2 east Malaysia states - Sabah and Sarawak who altogether delivered 54 Parliamentary Seats.

Had the BN fared poorly in Sabah and Sarawak, there will be a historic change in the history of Malaysia as for the first time ever, the country will be governed by the opposition.

Now, after the general election, the state of Perak has caught the attention of many, right up to now, for there are 2 sets of Menteri Besars (Chief Ministers), State Legislative Assembly Speakers, Excos (State Ministers) as well as other political appointed posts.

On May 22 2009, the Malaysian Court of Appeal declared Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir of the BN as the rightful Menteri Besar of Perak.

Previously after the March 2008 general election, the post was held by Datuk Nizar Jamaluddin of PAS.

Perak has gone into crisis after 3 opposition assemblymen, 2 from PKR and 1 from DAP, jumped ship and declared their support to the BN.

Now, a BN component party - the PPP or People Progressive Party is making the news in the local political arena.

There are now 2 Presidents of PPP.

One is the current President - Datuk M Kayveas and the other is Senator Datuk T Murugiah who was earlier sacked as PPP Supreme Council member, but on Sunday 24 th May declared himself as the rightful President of PPP.

PPP might be a small party but this certainly is another colourful chapter in the history of Malaysia's politics...

The one party - 2 Presidents scenario is not new in Malaysia.

In Sarawak and Sabah, 2 BN component parties - Parti Rakyat Sarawak, PRS and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah, PBRS had suffered the same fate.

The final result in both cases always favoured the original or incumbent President.

Today the president of PRS is still the incumbent and original President - Datuk Seri Dr James Jemut Masing while Tan Sri Joseph Kurup remains as PBRS President ever since he founded the party in 1994.

And in the case of PPP, i think M Kayveas is still the rightful president after all.

This is the current scenario of the PPP saga as reported in today's online edition of the News Straits Times :

The People's Progressive Party (PPP) will issue a show cause letter to members who attended the “extraordinary general meeting” in Putrajaya on Sunday.

PPP president, Datuk M. Kayveas, said the party had recorded proceedings at the EGM and knew who had attended the ”illegal” meeting.

"I had around 100 agents who monitored the EGM and reported to me like James Bond," he said after attending the opening of the Pahang PPP annual general meeting by State Information committee chairman Datuk Mohd Sharkar Shamsudin.

Also present was Pahang PPP chairman Datuk M. Elayppen.

Kayveas claimed that more than 90 per cent of those who attended the EGM were not PPP members.

At the EGM, sacked PPP supreme council member Senator Datuk T. Murugiah was "elected" party president while delegates also adopted a resolution of no confidence against Kayveas.

The EGM also reinstated six supreme council members who had been sacked by Kayveas but dismissed 43 others allied with Kayveas.

Kayveas accused Murugiah of being a "publicity-crazy maniac" who had used a lawless platform to gain power.

"He should check in at Tanjung Rambutan (mental hospital). You cannot simply hold a meeting and elect a new president. This is not a Miss World pageant where the winner wears a sash and a crown," he said.

Kayveas said Murugiah had set a bad example to the younger generation by organising a programme that was not in accordance with the country's laws and party constitution.

He said the party was still united and regarded the latest development as just a "storm in a teacup”.

"I've gone through more difficult times before and this will not hamper my efforts to strengthen the party," he said.

He explained that the PPP had no problems with the Registrar of Societies (ROS) as all its documents and reports were in order.

"There are some technical problems but they can be rectified," he said refuting claims that the party would be de-registered after failing to follow regulations set by the ROS.

Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir is the Perak Menteri Besar after all...

Former Perak MB - Datuk Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin


Perak Menteri Besar - Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir

The question of who is the rightful Menteri Besar of Perak has been resolved today, Friday, May 22nd, 2009.

The Court of Appeal - the nation's highest court has declared Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir of the Barisan Nasional as the rightful Menteri Besar of Perak in a unanimous decision.

Earlier on May 11 2009, the Kuala Lumpur High Court ruled that Datuk Seri Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin of the opposition party, Pas, is the rightful Mentri Besar of Perak, following which Nizar became Menteri Besar for less than 24 hours before Zambry filed a stay of execution of the judgement at the Court of Appeal.

Source - the star online

PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal has declared Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir the rightful menteri besar of Perak in a unanimous decision.

It granted Zambry his appeal against an earlier High Court decision declaring Datuk Seri Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin as the rightful mentri besar of Perak.

The three-man bench, comprising Justices Md Raus Shariff, Zainun Ali and Ahmad Maarop, heard submissions Thursday from counsel representing Nizar and Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir.

On May 12, Dr Zambry filed an appeal to quash High Court (Appellate and Special Powers) Justice Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahim’s ruling.

On Feb 13, Nizar had filed for a judicial review against Dr Zambry’s appointment as mentri besar, seeking a declaration that he (Nizar) was the rightful Perak mentri besar and an injunction to bar Dr Zambry from carrying out the duties of mentri besar.

On May 11, the High Court ruled in favour of Nizar, rendering Dr Zambry’s appointment null and void.

However, a day after that, the Court of Appeal granted Dr Zambry a stay of execution, allowing him to remain as mentri besar until his appeal against the High Court ruling was disposed of.

The court was also to hear Nizar’s application to set aside the stay of execution order, but had decided to hear the appeal proper first following the consent of all parties.

Security was tight at the Palace of Justice here Friday as members of the press and public gathered in large numbers.

Only 15 media passes were issued, while the rest had to use public passes. Not all managed to squeeze into the courtroom, which was standing room only.


TIMELINE OF THE PERAK POLITICAL CRISIS 2009

Feb 3: The crisis begins as Behrang assemblyman Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi and Changkat Jering assemblyman Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu quit Parti Keadilan Rakyat, PKR.

Feb 4: Jelapang assemblyman Hee Yit Foong, who is also the assembly’s deputy speaker, quits Democratic Action Party, DAP. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announces the fall of the Pakatan state government.

Feb 6: Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Kadir sworn in as Perak Mentri Besar. He appoints six new state executive councillors.

Feb 13: Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin files suit to challenge the legitimacy of Zambry as Perak Mentri Besar.

Feb 18: Perak assembly Speaker V. Sivakumar suspends Dr Zambry for 18 months and six state exco members for 12 months.

March 3: Sivakumar conducts an “emergency” assembly meeting under a tree near the Perak State Secretariat after police deny Pakatan assemblymen entry.

March 7: The High Court in Kuala Lumpur refers Nizar’s bid to challenge the legitimacy of Dr Zambry’s appointment to the Federal Court.

March 10: Sivakumar files suit in KL High Court against the three independent assemblymen and the Election Commission for not declaring their seats vacant.

March 20: Nizar fails in his appeal against a High Court ruling to move his suit against Dr Zambry to the Federal Court.

March 23: Federal Court sends Nizar’s case back to High Court as the matter involves the state Constitution.

April 10: Federal Court decides that Hee, Mohd Osman and Jamaluddin did not resign and remain as assemblymen.

April 16: Federal Court rules that Sivakumar does not have the power to suspend Dr Zambry and his state exco members.

April 20: Nizar files affidavit at Kuala Lumpur High Court stating that he had sought the consent of Sultan Azlan Shah to dissolve the state assembly because of a deadlock.

May 7: Perak assembly sits and quickly descends into pandemonium. Police enter Assembly and forcibly remove Sivakumar as Speaker; former Sungkai assemblyman Datuk R. Ganesan is appointed to replace him.

May 11: KL High Court rules that Nizar is the rightful mentri besar.

May 12: Court of Appeal grants Dr Zambry a stay of execution; he resumes his duties as mentri besar.

May 22 : Court of Appeal declares Dr Zambry as the rightful Perak Menteri Besar

Court declared Nizar Jamaluddin rightful Menteri Besar of Perak, BN to file appeal

2 faces of Mohammad Nizar (top) 3 months ago, his reaction when he was asked to vacate his Menteri Besar Office in Ipoh after 3 Pakatan Rakyat Assemblyman declared their support to BN, paving the way for Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir to be sworn in as the new Perak MB.


Today, May 11 2009, Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar jubilates after the Kuala Lumpur High Court ruled that he is the rightful Menteri Besar of Perak.

Well, the big question on who is the rightful Menteri Besar of Perak, either Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir of the BN or Datuk Seri Mohhammad Nizar Jamaluddin of Pakatan Rakyat has been resolved by the High Court in Kuala Lumpur today.

The winner - Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin.

The next question is - will Nizar act to dissolve the Perak state legislative assembly to pave the way for a fresh state election in Perak after so much political turmoil in the state, including the chaotic May 7 state assemblu sitting??

The newsreport by the star (source The Star online)

KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional will appeal the High Court ruling on Monday that declared Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin as the rightful Perak Mentri Besar, and not Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir.

The appeal would be filed on Tuesday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.

In the meantime, he urged the people of Perak to remain calm while "the situation is resolved."

Pakatan Rakyat is however adamant that there is no "situation."

“This is a great day for the rakyat (people) because the Law and the Constitution are the true winners,” Nizar said in a statement.

“It is a historic day for all who love democracy and it will be remembered for years and years to come. Its positive effects for revitalising parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy is tremendous,” he said.

He said that everyone from both sides of the political divide would benefit from this ruling “because an independent judiciary is absolutely essential for the well-being of any country and its people.”

Nizar said that all previous decisions made by the Dr Zambry administration would be subject to review but not invalidated except for the tumultous May 7 sitting.

He also suspended the state legal adviser with immediate effect.

Earlier, Zambry said he would apply for a stay pending appeal. This was immediately rejected by the court.

The court also ordered Zambry and the six executive councillors he had appointed to vacate their office.

An aide to Dr Zambry told the media that Perak Barisan Nasional will respect the court order and will vacate their offices at the state secretariat building immediately.

He added that Dr Zambry is on his way to Kuala Lumpur from Ipoh. Dr Zambry could not be reached for comment at press time.

Dr Zambry's private secretary Khairul Azwan Harun then asked the media to vacate the office, saying that their presence was "scaring off the staff."

By 5:30pm, several truckloads of Federal Reserve Unit personnel and police had arrived at the state secretariat building in Ipoh.

“Our presence is to maintain law and order,” said Perak CPO Deputy Comm Datuk Zulkifli Abdullah.

“We will not allow any illegal assembly or procession by either party,” he said.

Nizar left the KL courtroom saying he would seek an audience with the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah, to get his consent to dissolve the Assembly and call for fresh state elections.

He would make his request for the audience at a state function at the Istana Kuala Kangsar Tuesday morning.

In his ruling Monday, Justice Abdul Aziz Abd Rahim said that a new mentri besar could not be appointed as the office had not been vacated.

He said a mentri besar can only be dismissed by a vote of no confidence, and upheld the Stephen Kalong Ningkan ruling.

He noted that the Perak State Legislative Assembly had not held a vote of no confidence.

In 1966, Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Stephen Kalong Ningkan was ousted when the state governor showed him a letter of no confidence issued by 21 out of 42 legislators and asked Ningkan to resign.

Ningkan refused, saying the letters were not tantamount to a vote of no confidence in the state legislative assembly. He was sacked by the governor but eventually reinstated by the Borneo High Court, which saw the necessity of a formal vote of no confidence.

According to the Nutgraph, the judge ruled ruled that the governor can only dismiss the chief minister when both these conditions are satisfied:

(a) The chief minister has lost the confidence of the House, and

(b) The chief minister has refused to resign and failed to advise a dissolution.

Mixed reactions (no, really!)
Not all Barisan reps were ready to accept the court’s ruling. Perak senior executive councillor Datuk Hamidah Osman said in a democracy, the majority rules.

“How can Pakatan Rakyat rule without having a majority?” she said in IPOH. “Why should the State Assembly be dissolved?”

Perak DAP deputy chairman M. Kulasegaran said the KL High Court’s decision confirmed that the appointment of Dr Zambry as mentri besar was unconstitutional.

Kulasegaran, who is also Ipoh Barat MP, said the Perak State Assembly should now be dissolved and fresh elections be called.

“All this while during the political impasse, the people ended up being the biggest losing party.

“Investors are shying away from the state due to the uncertainty,” he added.

In KOTA BARU, Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat said the court’s decision had “revived democracy in Perak that has been in a ‘coma’ for the past three months.”

In GEORGE TOWN, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng described the High Court’s decision “a glorious victory” for the people of Perak.

He said the DAP reiterates its call for the dissolution of the state assembly and the holding of fresh elections to allow the people to choose their own government.

“The verdict clearly shows that Mohammad Nizar and his state executive councillors are the rightful leaders of the state government,” he said.

Earlier, he had said that the Opposition was willing to work with anyone to resolve the crisis in Perak.

“The crisis has caused shame not only to the people of Perak but also the entire country. What is more shameful is that the police forcibly took over the state assembly.

“I think we should respect the power that emanates from the ballot box,” he said.

Perak crisis
The political impasse in Perak goes back more than three months when three assemblymen from Pakatan quit their parties, saying that they would remain independent but pledging their loyalty to Barisan.

While the state assembly was evenly divided between Pakatan and Barisan with 28 seats each, the "pledge of loyalty" was sufficient to convince the Sultan of Perak that Barisan commanded the majority.

He refused Nizar's request for the Assembly to be dissolved and for fresh state elections to be called, instead asking the PAS man to step down as mentri besar.

Nizar declined, claiming he still retained the confidence of the Assembly.

The Sultan however gave his blessings to Barisan's choice of mentri besar, Dr Zambry.

Nizar filed for a judicial review on Feb 13, seeking a declaration that he is the rightful mentri besar of Perak and asked for an injunction to bar Dr Zambry from discharging his duties as the mentri besar.

On March 6, Justice Lau Bee Lan had ruled that there were constitutional issues involving the interpretation of Article 16 (6) of the Perak Constitution and later referred four consitutional questions to the Federal Court for determination.

However, on March 23, the Federal Court ruled that the case of who the rightful mentri besar is should be heard by the High Court.

Nizar’s lead counsel Sulaiman Abdullah, in wrapping up his submissions last week, said the Constitution was the “genius of the Malaysian people”, adding that the court had a duty to uphold it. Over the last few days, he had submitted that the Sultan, while granted powers in the Perak Constitution to appoint a mentri besar, could not dismiss him.

The only way Nizar could be dismissed, he said, was through a vote of no-confidence in the House.

He also said that a mentri besar could request for the State Assembly to be dissolved in the middle of a term without losing the confidence of the majority of the House.

Dr Zambry’s lawyer Datuk Cecil Abraham, however, argued that Nizar went by Article 16(6) of the Perak Constitution when he sought an audience with the Sultan – this article specifically provides for the mentri besar to request for a dissolution when he has lost the confidence of the majority in the House.

Under the article, Nizar is required to tender the resignation of his executive councillors when his request was rejected, he said.

The stage is set.... 2 "Bukits" byelections

The stage is set, come 7 April, it's showtime again to determine who is the champion of the world!!!!!

No, it is not Evander Holyfield vs Nikolai Valuev aka The Beast from the east, nor Mike Tyson comeback and last gasp attempt for the world heavyweight boxing crown.

But rather it is the 2 simultaneous byelections in Malaysia for the Bukit Gantang Parliament and Bukit Selambau state seats.

Currently the score is 2 - 0.

2 for Pakatan Rakyat and 0 for Barisan Nasional, BN after the 2 byelections in Permatang Pauh and Kuala Terengganu, both won by Pakatan.

After 7 April, will the score change to 4 - 0, or 3 - 1...??

However if the final score stands at 2 - 2, then the winner goes to BN.

Why? Simple.

In Perak, BN won the right to govern the state even tough the score was tied at 28 - 28.

The 3 extra YBs / assemblymen who jumped ship from Pakatan to BN are not formal members of BN yet, they were just expressing their support to BN by words of mouth and not via official documents ie formal application to join any BN components Parties during that material time...

Yet, the state government changed hand.

So we wait... red cards and yellow cards don't count here.... even the match referees / umpires themselves can be red carded!!!!

By the way, how come the 2 by-elections are named "Bukit" - Selambau and Gantang...?? and what if YB Elizabeth Wong resign as assemblywoman of "Bukit" Lanjan - another "Bukit" byelection here????

Furthermore this 3 Bukits assemblyperson represent Malaysia's 3 major race... The late MP of Bukit Gantang is a Malay while the YB of Bukit Selambau who resigned is an Indian.... and Bukit Lanjan - Elizabeth Wong is a Chinese!!!!!!!!!

Will there be another "Bukit" byelection after this????? Bukit Bendera?? Bukit Antarabangsa?? Bukit Bintang???? Bukit Bukau???? Bukit Aman???

Pilihanraya kecil DUN Behrang dan Changkat Jering, Perak???

Selepas Permatang Pauh dan Kuala Terengganu, nampaknya satu lagi pilihanraya kecil akan diadakan di negara ini, kali ini melibatkan DUN Behrang dan Changkat Jering, di Perak.

Ia berpunca perletakan jawatan sebagai wakil rakyat oleh 2 ADUN kawasan terbabit – Jamaludin Mat Radzi (Behrang) dan Mohd Osman Jailu (Changkat Jering) dari Parti Keadilan Rakyat, PKR, berkuat kuasa jam 5.45 petang tadi Ahad 1 Februari 2009.

Mereka dilaporkan menyerahkan surat perletakan jawatan sebagai ADUN kepada Speaker DUN Perak, V. Sivakumar.

Sivakumar dalam satu kenyataan dikeluarkan petang tadi berkata beliau akan memaklumkan perkembangan terbaru itu kepada Suruhanjaya Pilihanraya, SPR, esok.

Mengikut perlembagaan, pilihanraya kecil perlu diadakan dalam tempoh 60 hari daripada tarikh sesuatu kerusi DUN atau Parlimen dikosongkan.

Perletakan jawatan Jamaludin dan Mohd Osman itu menamatkan spekulasi mengenai kedudukan dan status mereka setelah dilaporkan ‘ghaib’ sejak 5 hari lalu.

Siang tadi sebelum pengumuman itu dibuat, khabar angin bertiup kencang kononnya kedua dua mereka sudah keluar dari PKR dan menyertai UMNO.

Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi ketika merasmikan sambutan hari wilayah di ibu negara siang tadi turut mengesahkan ada Adun pembangkang menyertai BN.

Perkembangan itu memaksa Menteri Besar Perak, Datuk Seri Mohd Nizar Jamaludin mempengerusikan mesyuarat tergempar bagi membincangkan perkembangan itu, hari ini.

Jamaludin, 52 tahun dan Mohd Osman, 57 tahun, adalah Exco Perak dengan Jamaludin memegang potfolio Exco pembangunan usahawan dan koperasi manakala Mohd Osman selaku exco NGO dan pelancongan.

2 pilihanraya kecil di Perak ini dilihat amat penting dan signifikan, berdasarkan kedudukan semasa kerusi DUN Perak, selepas pilihanraya umum ke 12, Mac tahun lalu.

Selepas pilihanraya itu, Pakatan Rakyat mengambil alih teraju kerajaan negeri apabila menang 31 daripada 59 kerusi DUN, berbanding BN yang hanya menang 28 kerusi.

Majoriti tipis 3 kerusi yang memihak kepada Pakatan Rakyat itu bertambah kepada kelebihan satu lagi kerusi atau bersamaan Pakatan Rakyat – 32 kerusi dan BN – 27 kerusi setelah ADUN Bota, Datuk Nasarudin Hashim, keluar UMNO dan masuk PKR, 25 januari lalu.

Namun dengan tindakan 2 ADUN PKR meletak jawatan itu hari ini, kedudukan kerusi terkini DUN Perak pada 1 Februari 2009 adalah Pakatan Rakyat – 30 kerusi manakala BN – 27 kerusi.

Andainya BN menang dan merampas semula kedua dua kerusi DUN Behrang dan Changkat Jering dalam pilihanraya kecil itu, maka kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat hanya mempunyai kelebihan majoriti dalam DUN yang amat tipis iaitu 1 kerusi kerana kerusi DUN BN perak kini 29 berbanding Pakatan Rakyat 30 kerusi, itupun jika perkara itu berlaku.

Namun jika 2 kerusi itu turut dimenangi semula atau berjaya dipertahankan Pakatan Rakyat, maka Pakatan Rakyat masih agak selesa dengan kelebihan 5 kerusi iaitu 32 kerusi berbanding BN – 27 kerusi.

Itu secara matematiknya.

Tren Pengundi sukar dijangka.

Namun terbukti, 2 pilihanraya kecil sebelum ini memihak kepada Pakatan Rakyat.

PKR menerusi Penasihatnya Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim berjaya mengekalkan kerusi Parlimen Permatang Pauh dengan majoriti lebih besar menewaskan calon BN Datuk Ariff Shah Omar Shah.

Pada pilihanraya kecil Parlimen Kuala Terengganu 17 Januari lalu, PAS menerusi Abdul Wahid Endut, berjaya merampas semula kerusi itu daripada BN.