Election-scared Najib to appeal Nizar ruling on Tues

By Wong Choon Mei

Malaysia’s scandal-hit Prime Minister Najib Razak said the Umno-BN would appeal a High Court ruling that declared Pakatan Rakyat leader Nizar Jamaluddin as the rightful Mentri Besar of Perak, invalidating coup d’etat he hatched in February.

Najib, whose power grab led his coalition to power in Perak, said the appeal would be filed on Tuesday.

Having lost four of the past five by-elections, Najib is widely expected to use all ways and means - including the underhanded and foul - to cling to power as his Umno-BN is unlikely to win by clean and fair election.

And even as the increasingly unpopular PM called for calm, the people of Perak and across the entire nation were celebrating the latest decision by Justice Abdul Aziz Abd Rahim, an indication of how much out of sync Najib has become with his countrymen.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim hailed the court decision as a victory for the people and promised that the Pakatan would honour its pledge to return the mandate to the people and call for fresh election.

Already Nizar has sought an audience with Sultan Azlan on Tuesday morning with the aim of seeking a dissolution of the state assembly.

Said Anwar: “This is a victory for the people and also for the system of democracy in our country. Today’s decision proves that the Constitution is the highest law in our country. It is therefore crucial for all government institutions to respect the spirit that is enshrined in the Constitution and the laws it contains.

To end the crisis in Perak, Pakatan Rakyat will seek a dissolution of the Perak state assembly with immediate effect. This will allow the rakyat to re-determine the state government that they want and trust through fresh election. We are confident that the people will choose wisely for their future and the future of the nation.”

Decisions by Zambry administration will not be invalidated but to be subjected to review

Meanwhile, Nizar said that all previous decisions made by Zambry Kadir, the BN Menteri Besar that Najib persuaded the Sultan to appoint, would be subject to review but not automatically invalidated. The exception was the widely-condemned May 7 state assembly sitting.

Nizar also suspended the state legal adviser Ahmad Kamal Md Shahid, who played a treacherous role in the toppling of Nizar’s administration, with immediate effect.

Meanwhile, as Nizar was speeding back to Ipoh to resume his duties, Zambry was driving down to Kuala Lumpur to see his boss, Najib.

Zambry’s aide, Khairul Azwan Harun, told the media in Ipoh that Perak Barisan Nasional will respect the court order and vacate their offices at the state secretariat building immediately. However, he refused to allow the press to stay to see if the BN would really keep its word.

Meanwhile, several truckloads of Federal Reserve Unit personnel arrived to cordon off the Perak Darul Ridwan building.

“Our presence is to maintain law and order,” said CPO Deputy Comm Zulkifli Abdullah. “We will not allow any illegal assembly or procession by either party.”

It remains to be seen if the Perak police will truly carry out their duties with neutrality. Like the state secretary and the assembly secretary, the state police and even a judicial commissioner at the Ipoh courthouse had been persuaded to blatantly favour the Umno-BN at the expense of law and justice.