Anwar says Pakatan not going against the palace

Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the Perak Menteri Besar’s refusal to resign despite the request by Sultan Azlan Shah did not mean Pakatan Rakyat was on a collision course with the Perak palace.

Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, hands clasped, deliberates about Perak's state of affairs in Pakatan Rakyat’s press conference in Ipoh today. Perak Menteri Besar — for now — Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin on his left looks on for inspiration. The coming hours will be crucial in deciding the fate of the silver state. — pic by Choo Choy May

“Considering the spirit of constitutional monarchy and Parliamentary democracy, this takover if allowed will be a disaster to the democratic system,” Anwar told reporters after a meeting with PR leaders.

He added that only a dissolution of the state assembly and a state-wide election would solve the problem.

On the order by the state secretariat for the leaders to vacate the building, Anwar described the action as abnormal.

“The MB has not resigned, has not been dismissed. It is abnormal under the so-called democratic system,” he added.

DAP’s Lim Kit Siang described the takeover attempt by BN as a coup led by Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

“A month before Najib becomes the sixth Prime Minister, but today he has launched a coup d'état,” said Lim adding that Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin was still the Menteri Besar.

“The PR government is still legitimate. This takeover is illegal and unconstitutional,” said the Ipoh Timor MP.

Earlier today Nizar was ordered to resign by the ruler as he was deemed to have lost the support of the majority of the state’s lawmakers.

The government has however refused to step down saying that BN has no majority in the assembly, claiming that the three independents who back the coalition have resigned as legislators. -- By Adib Zalkapli, The Malaysian Insider

Pakatan plans mammoth gathering in Ipoh to rally support

Pakatan Rakyat (PR) is planning a mammoth public gathering in front of the Perak mentri besar’s residence tomorrow in what is surely the last throw of the dice to head off the formation of a new state government by Barisan Nasional (BN).

A new BN government is looking all but certain now after the defections of four assemblymen from the PR alliance in Perak today.

“We are trying to mobilise a crowd of over 50,000 people for tomorrow night.

“This will be the start of the public’s support for Pakatan Rakyat,” read a text message sent by an aide to Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim tonight.

The plans for a mammoth rally come after a dramatic day where Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin tried to obtain consent from the Peral Sultan to dissolve the state assembly.

He failed to get an immediate answer from Sultan Azlan Shah.

But any plans to convince the state ruler with a public rally may well be moot if he consents to BN forming a state government tomorrow morning.

Deputy Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who is also Perak BN chief, is expected to be granted an audience by Sultan Azlan Shah tomorrow morning.

During the meeting, Najib will make the case for BN to form a new government to end the political uncertainties in the state.

the star pix: We have the numbers

Najib made the claim for the power grab today after announcing the state BN coalition now had 28 members of the state legislature, the same as PR, but it also had the backing of three independents whom are likely to join one of the parties of the ruling coalition soon.

If the Sultan does not give an immediate answer tomorrow, it will open the door for PR to use a public rally to try to convince the ruler to dissolve the assembly.

PR leaders feel that fresh elections will be their best bet for survival as they are confident of getting a convincing mandate from voters. - The Malaysian Insider

No defections!.. in response to Malaysiakini's report

Nine members of the state Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club (BBC) yesterday declared their loyalty to Umno and the BN and said that there would be no defecting to any opposition party.

State BBC chairman Datuk Zainal Abidin Ahmad said the club fully supported the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

"We also warn Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Pas and DAP, along with their agents, not to spread rumours or allegations in relation to defections.

"Our loyalty and integrity will not be compromised by any party and we will remain loyal to the BN and state government."

pix: Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan (second from left) with members of the state Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club

Apart from Zainal, who is the Sungai Lui sssemblyman, the other state BBC members are Datuk Roslan Md Yusof (Johol); Datuk Dr Awaludin Said (Kota); Datuk Mohd Kamil Abd Aziz (Gemencheh); Datuk Aziz Shamsuddin (Palong); Mustafa Salim (Lenggeng); Adnan Abu Hassan (Pilah); Zaifulbahri Idris (Chembong) and Azman Mohammad Noor (Bagan Pinang).

Mohamad, who is also state BN chairman, said he hoped the declaration by the BBC members would put to rest any speculation that state BN members were defecting to the opposition.

"I hope this issue will end here and not be prolonged. This is the time for us to work and implement all that we promised during the general election.

"I also hope the public will remain confident in the state Barisan leadership and help us bring greater development and progress to the state."

On a statement by Seremban Umno division chief Datuk Ishak Ismail in Internet news portal Malaysiakini predicting that three assemblymen in the state would defect, Mohamad said: "As Umno members, we must do our part to put an end to rumours and allegations which will destroy our party.

"We will discuss what he said at our next meeting before bringing it up to party headquarters for further action."

Malaysiakini had quoted Ishak as saying that Aziz, Mustafa and state executive councillor Shamsulkahar Mohd Deli would defect, with Aziz being the most likely.

All three have denied the allegations. – nst

BN has rest of the match to score

IN recent days, Pakatan Rakyat has been blowing its own trumpet over the defection of Bota assemblyman Datuk Nasarudin Hashim to Parti Keadilan Rakyat.

So sweet was the "victory" that even PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim described the cross-over as a significant milestone on the road to change.

Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin announced the possibility of three more Umno assemblymen jumping ship.

While he cannot be blamed for his optimism, Nizar should have held on to his horses.

The trio concerned -- Lintang assemblyman Datuk Ahamad Pakeh Adam, Pengkalan Baharu assemblyman Datuk Hamdi Abu Bakar and Kubu Gajah assemblyman Datuk Seri Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar -- have since pledged their loyalty to Umno.

The political scenario in Perak is precarious owing to the razor-thin margin that separates the Pakatan state government and the Barisan Nasional opposition.

Before Nasarudin's defection, the balance of power hung on two seats. Now, Pakatan has 32 seats to BN's 27.

Although Nizar might have thought that Nasarudin's move would secure his job, it might equally mark the beginning of the end for him as the state's 10th menteri besar.

Outgoing Perak BN and state Umno liaison committee chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Tajol Rosli Ghazali was coy when he issued the warning to Nizar.

"This is like a football match. They have got one goal in the first five minutes but we have the rest of the match to score."

Stopping short of saying that BN would go all out to woo Pakatan assemblymen and topple the state government, he accused Pakatan of starting the ball rolling.

If Tajol Rosli sounded bitter, he had every reason to.

When rumours swirled that several Pakatan assemblymen in Perak were on the verge of joining BN last year, Tajol Rosli was accused of being unethical and corrupt.

However, these same people have now welcomed Nasarudin's defection with Nizar even saying that it must be respected.

Nizar should realise that although there might be internal problems in Umno and BN, his administration is no different.

Rifts exist between members of the state administration although these have been placed under wraps.

BN will try and capitalise on them.

The game has just begun and, as the saying goes, he who laughs last, laughs best. -- Husairy Othman, NST