Despite the views of some of the legal advisors including the president of the Bar Council, what is happening in Perak today is unconstitutional. The rights of the people have been usurped by the central government.

The people of Perak had given a decent mandate to Pakatan Rakyat to govern the state; this was amply demonstrated by the majority of votes Pakatan Rakyat had received over Barisan Nasional in the general elections last year

Since independence, this country has been guided and governed by the Westminster parliamentary democratic system. It has served us well. As in Perak, the central government adheres to this democratic system which has served us so well since independence

Because of a razor-thin majority which either side claims to have and the resulting confusion it has created, it is only sensible that the Perak state assembly be dissolved and state elections be initiated so that the people can mandate which party shall administer the state.

Otherwise, we can expect political turmoil in the state of Perak indefinitely. Worse, this turmoil could reverberate to other parts of Malaysia. Is this what the central administration wants?

HRH The Sultan of Perak indeed has some prerogatives as the constitutional monarch of Perak but this unfortunately does not include the dismissal of his mentri besar.

The dismissal of the mentri besar can only come about if there is a successful motion of no-confidence against the incumbent mentri besar in the state assembly. Due democratic process ought to take place first, otherwise, this is deemed as usurping the peoples' power which is definitely not acceptable

And as the interpretation of the law in this respect has elicited various interpretations, obviously there is a doubt here. Then, when in doubt, the proper channel to resolve this is to go the courts who are the final arbiters. This avenue would be the way to go

If Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Najib Razak insist on this ‘coup’ in Perak without respecting the due process of law, history will later prove that they have erred in going through this silly route.

They will have to live with this ignominy for the rest of their lives. If they are happy to do so, good luck to the both of them

In the final analysis, and this has been amply proven many times in the past, what goes around comes around, there will be the return of the karma. Woe betide those that challenge this eventual destiny.