A lot can be learned from the saga of the past few weeks. First and foremost, each component party of Pakatan Rakyat should have in place a mechanism to monitor the whereabout and safety of their elected representatives especially the state executive councillors. Secondly, PR should have lawyers who are well versed in Federal Constitution as well as state constitutions so as to be able to advise party leaders in matters pertaining to "fine prints" and "unusual events".
Thirdly, a high degree of rapport and cooperation must be maintained with the state rulers and the palace officials at all times to enable rules of law, justice and good governance prevail.
Now it's up to the Sultan of Perak to grant or otherwise
(1) the Barisan Nasional, which has majority support (31 assemblymen vs 28 for the Pakatan Rakyat) in the 59-seat Legislative Assembly, to form a new government; or
(2)MB Datuk Sri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin’s request to dissolve the state assembly and get a fresh mandate from voters.
PM DS Abdullah was asked regarding the defection of two PKR ADUN,
Perak govt collapses
Sun2surf
PUTRAJAYA (Feb 4, 2009) : Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak today announced that Barisan Nasional now has the mandate to take over the Perak government from Pakatan Rakyat (PR), with the return of Bota assemblyman Datuk Nasarudin Hashim to Umno and the support of three former PR assemblymen who quit their parties to become independents.
Speaking at a short press conference at his office here, Najib said: "BN Perak has the majority assemblymen in the state when three assemblymen, Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi (Behrang), Kapt Mohd Osman Jailu (Changkat Jering) and Hee Yit Foong (Jelapang) informed me that they have each sent letters to Sultan of Perak Sultan Azlan Shah to inform him they have left their respective parties."
Jamaluddin and Osman won their seats on Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) tickets while Hee won Jelapang as a DAP candidate and made history by being the first woman to be appointed deputy state legislative speaker.
"Today, Bota assemblyman Datuk Nasarudin Hashim also met me to say that he wants to rejoin Umno," Najib said.
All four assemblymen were with Najib at the press conference.
Nasaruddin had defected from Umno to PKR on Jan 25, causing a furore in Perak Umno that ended with Najib taking over as state Umno liaison and BN chief from former mentri besar Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli.
This means the BN now has 28 seats, equal to the PR's.
Asked how this would work out as the BN has an equal number of seats with PR in the 59-seat assembly, he said: "The three independents have pledged their support for the BN so we have 31 seats against 28."
Najib denied that the three assemblymen who are now independents were bought over.
"The trio (Jamaluddin, Hee and Osman) have also given me the mandate to nominate the new Menteri Besar," he said.
All four assemblymen (including Nasarudin) have informed the Perak state assembly Speaker V.Sivakumar, Parti Keadilan President Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng that they are no longer members of the respective parties.
Asked why BN was willing to be associated with Jamaluddin and Osman who have been tainted by corruption charges, Najib replied: "We have no problem, that is a separate issue."
He said Perak law states that a Menteri Besar who has lost the confidence of the majority has to relinquish his position together with his executive council members.
"We will be meeting the Sultan to inform him that BN now has the majority."
Asked what would happen if the Sultan dissolves the assembly to allow fresh elections to be held in the state as requested by the PR government today, Najib said: "That is entirely the prerogative of the Sultan."
Speaking of the PR, he said: "They probably did not expect this, but they wanted to form the government without following the due democratic process – so don’t blame the BN."
"Everything is the will of God, we are thankful for this. We did not start this, but somebody wanted to form the government on Sept 16," he said
On a statement by Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin that Nasarudin's wife had claimed that her husband had been "kidnapped" today, both Najib and Nasarudin denied the claim.
Nasarudin said: "With consciousness and a sense of responsibility, I have rejoined Umno and BN as of today. This is after listening to views and advice from political friends and individuals who want to see stability and a strong government in Perak. The present tumultuous political climate in the state has resulted in a weak government. I have also taken into account and respect the voters of Bota and democratic principles."
Meanwhile, PKR advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim told AFP: "The BN are trying to form the state government by hook or by crook -- more by crook."
Anwar's opposition seized control of five states and a third of national parliamentary seats in general elections a year ago, transforming Malaysia's political landscape.
Since then, the PR has won two parliamentary by-elections, in a major psychological boost to its ambitions of seizing power. Anwar himself had tried to woo BN MPs to form the federal government by Sept 16, but the gambit failed.
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