Ku Li: Nizar is still MB

So who is the Perak mentri besar? Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin? Dr Zambry Abd Kadir?

According to Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, it is Mohd Nizar.

“ Nizar Jamaluddin is menteri besar until he resigns of his own accord, or is removed by a vote of no-confidence in a formal sitting of the assembly,” the former Umno veep said in a statement

“Only the answer of the assembly courts counts. The constitution makes no provision for his removal by any other means, including by petitions or instructions from any other authority,” Razaleigh pointed out.

BN Pangkor state rep Dr Zamry Abdul Kadir was sworn in yesterday by the Sultan of Perak as the new mentri besar after His Highness requested incumbent MB Mohd Nizar to step down. But the latter refused.

Razaleigh also stressed that to remove and install a government in any other way is considered a vio lation of the constitution, erode the rule of law and risk forming an illegal government.

The people are angry

Meanwhile DAP Klang parliamentarian Charles Santiago reiterated the notion that defections are not the way to form a government but elections are.

He said the protest yesterday at Istana Iskandari ah clearly showed the anger of the people on the political situation.

The people, according to Santiago, are not only angry at the BN government but the Perak Ruler too, for failing to make a fair decision when dealing with matters affecting the people.

“His decision to allow Barisan Nasional to form a new government shows total disrespect to the will of the people. The people should be allowed to choose their representatives again.

Claiming that the coup in Perak was engineered by Deputy Premier Najib Abdul Razak through back door deals, Santiago also described it as an act to “bolster his credentials ahead of a power transition and sees the overthrow of the Perak government as a major triumph”.

“Najib will use this as a leverage of power to ensure Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi keeps his part of the deal and hand over the reins of leadership”, he said, adding that “gaining Perak through dubious means will create a severe backlash for the BN in the next general election.”