Karpal indicates he won't sue Perak Sultan - Sun

Karpal Singh talks to journalist at the federal Court, Putrajaya today

PUTRAJAYA (Feb 11, 2009): DAP national chairman Karpal Singh has indicated that he is falling in line with the party and the Pakatan Rakyat's stand not to sue the Sultan of Perak over his decision to ask Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin to step down as mentri besar.

When asked by reporters outside the Palace of Justice today whether he will be taking the Sultan to court, the combative politician replied: "The question does not arise."

His fellow veteran Lim Kit Siang, who was with Karpal, said after a long discussion, they agreed that the most important task now is the upcoming two by-elections for the state seat of Bukit Selambau and the parliamentary seat of Bukit Gantang, which the opposition will go all out to retain.

He said they also agreed that whatever differences they have will be sorted out within the party.

Karpal agreed, saying "there is a bigger task ahead" (referring to the two by-elections).

He however reiterated his stand that it is within the confines of the law to take the Sultan to court, a stand that has got him a lot of flak from various quarters, including Umno.

"Pakatan leaders feel the Sultan should not be sued, although I don't agree with it," he said.

However, he added: "There are other lawyers who will do the necessity because my view is different from others, who have taken over the matter now. That is what Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim wants. Let it be that way."

Anwar had earlier said that PR would set up a legal panel to study the Perak government issue, and that Karpal's view would be taken into consideration.

This had apparently angered Karpal who felt that even his fellow leaders in the party were not supporting him.

On the demonstration by a group of Umno Youth members on Tuesday near his Pudu office, Karpal said he will not be intimidated as what he is doing is within the law.

He said Umno Youth should stop the demonstration which is illegal. "They hurled abuses at me," he said, adding the placards carried abusive words.

He also said police are looking for him to record a statement and that he will cooperate.

Pakatan: Differences but united, says Guan Eng - Star

Feb 10, 2009 By IAN McINTYRE

GEORGE TOWN: There are differences of opinion among Pakatan Rakyat leaders but parties in the alliance are working hard to resolve these issues and will be transparent about them, said DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

“I do not deny there are differences. We are transparent and brave enough to admit our mistakes.

“The differences and other arising issues will not be swept under the carpet as DAP will always practise what it preaches,” he proclaimed.

Lim reiterated that the DAP would abide by the decisions made by the Pakatan leadership and speak in one voice on all issues, especially on the political imbroglio in Perak.

He was responding to the recent outburst by DAP national chairman Karpal Singh who openly called on Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to resign as the de facto leader of Pakatan.

On the two by-elections in Kedah and Perak, Lim said DAP was ready to help PAS and PKR in defending the Bukit Gantang parliamentary seat and the Bukit Selambau state seat.

Asked whether Karpal’s outburst against Anwar and the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah, would affect Pakatan in Bukit Gantang, Lim said he believed it would not.

He was speaking to newsmen after attending a ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of a RM800,000 concrete wall and additional security arrangements for the Silver Jubilee Home For the Aged here Tuesday.

Nizar barred from office as six BN exco take oath - Malaysian Insider

By Lee Wei Lian and Shannon Teoh

Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin thanking policemen blocking his way for doing their job. – Pic by Choo Choy May

IPOH, Feb 10 – As the Barisan Nasional (BN) carried on with the formalities of taking over the state government today with the swearing-in of six new executive councillors, Pakatan Rakyat (PR) continued fighting its increasingly futile claim to power.

Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin led his state executive council members from PR in what was definitely a symbolic gesture to report for work as usual at their offices in the state secretariat here.

In their way were more than 50 riot police officers. Behind them a small band of supporters, mainly from Pas, backed by shouts of “Allahuakbar”.

“Usually, on Tuesday, we meet investors but as we were blocked we are backing off and we thank all enforcement agencies for doing their job.

“We will do our work from the residence and try to rearrange our appointments to meet there,” he told reporters.

Nizar has so far refused to resign as mentri besar in what has become a drawn-out political crisis that is consuming the resources of both BN and PR.

Sultan Azlan Shah had refused Nizar’s request to dissolve the state assembly and pave the way for fresh elections to solve the political impasse caused by defections.

The ruler instead decided to invite BN’s Datuk Zambry Abdul Kadir to form a new government.

Nizar and PR maintain that the BN government is illegal as the Sultan has no constitutional right to dismiss him as MB.

The ruler’s decision has come under considerable criticism, and has sparked a constitutional crisis over the role of rulers in politics.

This culminated in a mass protest last Friday when thousands of demonstrator clashed with riot police outside the Istana Iskandariah in Kuala Kangsar where the Sultan was swearing-in Zambry.

Concerns over security has caused Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and even the Sultan to cancel public appearances.

Today, six BN assemblymen were sworn-in as new state executive councilors in Kuala Kangsar amid tight security. There were no sign of protestors with most roads leading to the palace closed off.

Derhaka? We beg to differ, says Ngeh - Malaysian Insider

By Shannon Teoh

IPOH, Feb 10 - Accusing Umno Youth of confusing the people and incitement, Perak DAP chief Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham today clarified that Datuk Nizar Jamaluddin had only “begged to differ” with the Sultan.

He said that when Nizar had refused to resign as mentri besar, he had told Sultan Azlan Shah “Patik mohon sembah derhaka” which was merely palace language to say “Your lordship, I beg to differ.”

Barisan Nasional has been labelling Pakatan Rakyat as anti-Sultan in its bid to overturn the tide of public disapproval of its takeover of the Perak government, which PR says is unconstitutional.

Yesterday, led by Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin, about 1,000 demonstrators called for Nizar and Ngeh to be stripped of their titles by the Sultan and also to be banished from the state along with other Pakatan Rakyat leaders for committing treason against the crown.

Ngeh however, explained that in modern times, especially under a constitutional monarchy, the term “derhaka” did not exclusively mean treason anymore.

He added that under Article 18 of the Perak constitution, the Sultan was to follow the advice of the MB in various matters, which showed the key difference between an absolute monarchy and a constitutional one.

“Umno Youth are confusing people and the police should arrest them for inciting the public against the constitution,” he said.

Isu derhaka: Umno dicabar bertindak ke atas Anuar Musa, PM Abdullah - Harakah

Saidah Hairan
Tue | Feb 10, 09 | 12:02:51 pm MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, 10 Feb (Hrkh) - BN terus menggunakan strategi kotor, cuba merampas hak perundangan yang diizinkan melalui perlembagaan negara apabila menghalang sistem mahkamah yang diadili Pakatan Rakyat terhadap kesahihan pelantikan Menteri Besar dan kerajaan BN di Perak.

Berhubung tindakan tersebut, Ketua Penerangan PAS Pusat, Dato' Mahfuz Omar menyifakannya sebagai satu lagi bentuk kerakusan Umno-BN yang cuba merampas hak perundangan yang diizinkan sistem negara ini.

Menurut beliau, tindakan Umno-BN itu amat tidak bermoral dan ia merupakan satu jenayah terhadap sistem negara setelah mereka merampas kuasa perundangan dan perlembagaan dalam krisis di Perak.

"Sekali lagi Umno-BN cuba merampas hak perundangan yang diizinkan melalui perlembagaan negara kepada setiap rakyat untuk mendapat pembelaan yang sebenar di mahkamah," tegasnya.

Jika tindakan Pakatan Rakyat tidak benar dan tidak izinkan tindakan undang-undang dalam bentuk seperti itu beliau mencabar Umno-BN terlebih dahulu mengambil tindakan undang-undang terhadap Pengerusi Umno Kelantan, Dato' Anuar Musa terhadap Kebawah Duli Tuanku Sultan Kelantan pada tahun 1993 yang menabalkan Tengku Ibrahim sebagai Sultan Kelantan.

Katanya, ia juga berlaku kepada Tan Sri Mohd Yaakob yang membuat perarakan menyerahkan memorandum kepada Sultan Kelantan dan meminta Sultan Kelantan turun daripada takhta.

"Saya juga mencabar tindakan undang-undang diambil terhadap Perdana Menteri, Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yang telah menimbulkan krisis terhadap Sultan Terengganu yang juga Yang di-Pertuan Agong dalam kes pelantikan Menteri Besar Terengganu," tegasnya.

Begitu juga tambah beliau tindakan undang-undang perlu diambil terhadap pihak Standard Charted Public Bank yang telah mengheret Almarhum Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan ke mahkamah supaya menjelaskan hutang.

Menurut beliau, jika mengikut pandangan Umno-BN perbuatan pihak Standard Charted Public Bank itu merupakan satu penghinaan terhadap Raja-raja Melayu tetapi mengapa pada waktu itu Umno tidak marah dan mengambil tindakan undang-undang terhadap pihak bank.

Justeru, beliau berharap supaya pihak Umno-BN jangan mempolitikkan isu mencabar kesahihan Menteri Besar dan kerajaan BN sebagai satu bentuk pendurhakaan.

Sebaliknya kata beliau itu merupakan hak yang diizinkan dalam negara ini.

Beliau meminta Umno-BN tunjukkan kejujuran dan jangan cuba menuduh Pakatan Rakyat telah durhaka terhadap Tuanku Sultan. - lanh

Kerajaan 'haram' Perak jejas institusi Raja, hilang keyakinan pelabur - Harakah

Azamin Amin
Tue | Feb 10, 09 | 11:40:31 am MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, 10 Feb (Hrkh) - Semua pihak termasuk Sultan Perak Raja Azlan Shah dan Umno, mestilah menangani krisis Perak mengikut undang-undang dan Perlembagaan Negara bagi mengembalikan kestabilan politik negeri itu yang kian kusut dan tergugat.

Ketua Penerangan PAS Pusat Dato' Mahfuz Omar berkata jika ianya tidak dilakukan maka imej institusi Raja akan tercemar di mata dunia malah keyakinan pelabur untuk menyumbangkan kepada peningkatan ekonomi negeri ini akan turut terjejas.

"Jalan yang ada ikut undang-undang iaitu kembalikan mandat kepada rakyat dan membubarkan DUN ataupun adakan tiga pilihan raya kecil di Changkat Jering, Behrang dan Jelapang akibat Adun-adun yang berpaling tadah terhadap harapan rakyat," katanya ketika menghubungi Harakahdaily sebentar tadi.

Dua kaedah ini sangat penting, supaya rakyat dan masyarkat antarabangsa yakin dengan pelaksanaan undang-undang dalam negara yang sewajaranya melindungi rakyat daripada sebarang ketidak-adilan.

"Jika undang-undang dilanggari, apa lagi yang tingggal kepada rakyat dan juga masyarakat pelabur yang mahu datang ke sini? Mereka tidak akan 'invest' kalau politik tidak stabil dan kerajaan sedia ada membelakangkan undang-undang.

"Ini sekaligus menjejaskan peningkatan ekonomi yang sudah sedia maklum makin merudum," katanya.

Himpunan rakyat dan tunjuk perasan oleh Umno baru-baru ini untuk terus mempertahankan kerajaan haram Perak katanya jelas membuktikan, Umno sejak awal lagi sudah membelakang undang-undang dan sering menggunakan sentimen kuasa Raja-raja untuk meraih sokongan.

"Proses lantikan Menteri Besar sangat jelas dan termaktub dalam undang-undang dan bila Umno buat begini nyatalah dia melanggar undang-undang bukannya kita," katanya yang juga Ahli Parlimen Pokok Sena.

Beliau turut menyeru supaya institusi Raja-raja tidak mengiktiraf kerajaan 'haram' Perak dan mengembalikan semula kuasa memilih di tangan rakyat.

"Sangat penting Raja memberi mandat semula kepada rakyat, jika tidak ianya dilihat seolah-olah Ketua Negeri tidak lagi dapat melindungi dan memayungi rakyat jelata.

"Sultan mestilah bertindak atas sifat sebagai payung, penjaga negeri dan perlembagaan. Kita tidak mahu rakyat melihat seolah-olah Sultan menyebelahi pihak tertentu," katanya. - azm

PKR's Arumugam quits as state assemblyman - NST

Feb 10, 2009 By : Noor Adzman Baharuddin and Adib Povera

V. Arumugam telephoned the menteri besar’s assistant to announce his decision to resign.

ALOR STAR: Hours after stepping down from the state executive council, Kedah Parti Keadilan Rakyat deputy chairman V. Arumugam dropped a second bombshell on the government by also stepping down as state assemblyman for Bukit Selambau.
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Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak said Arumugam sent a two-page statutory declaration to him about 5pm yesterday.

Arumugam was State Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs, Unity, Estate Workers and Indian and Siamese Communities' Affairs Committee chairman.

"Copies of the statutory declaration, made on Sunday, were also handed to Sultan of Kedah Sultan Abdul Halim Mua'dzam Shah and the Speaker Datuk Dr Abdul Isa Ismail," he said here at a hastily arranged news conference last night.

A third copy of the document, which Azizan said was certified by notary public, was sent to PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Present were Abdul Isa and Kedah PKR chairman Ahmad Kassim, who is also MP for Kuala Kedah.

Arumugam's resignation, amid speculation that he was facing marital problems, paves the way for a by-election in the next 60 days. He has also been "incommunicado" since last Thursday, when news broke out over allegations that he had insulted the sultan by bringing his "second" wife to attend state functions..

The news conference was the second by Azizan in a span of six hours. He had earlier announced that the 54-year-old former trainer at the RMAF College here had announced his decision to quit the state executive council.

Azizan said Arumugam, who contested as an independent candidate in last March's general election, cited continuous threats on his and his family's safety and the constant pressure from Barisan Nasional agents, including an alleged RM5 million offer and a state exco post, for him to defect from the PKR as the main reasons for his decision.

"I feel sorry for him. He was a good friend, assemblyman and state exco. He just could not hack it anymore but this is normal for politicians and many have tendered their resignations and they have their reasons," he said.

On a candidate to contest in Bukit Selambau, he said he was leaving it to PKR to decide since the state seat was allocated to the party.

Asked on Arumugam's whereabouts, Azizan said he had no inkling. Ahmad also said he was unaware of the whereabouts of his party colleague.

Isa said he would inform the Election Commission of the vacancy in Bukit Selambau today.

At the last general election, Arumugam beat S. Krishnan (BN-MIC) by a 2,362-vote majority although Bukit Selambau was traditionally a BN stronghold.

The voters comprised 50.2 per cent Malays, 19.3 per cent Chinese and 29.5 per cent Indians. Arumugam was one of three state exco members from the PKR.

The others are Mohammad Radzhi Salleh (Lunas) and Tan Wei Shu (Bakar Arang).

The remaining two PKR state assemblymen are Lim Soo Nee (Kulim) and Tan Show Kang (Sidam). The sole DAP representative is Lee Guan Aik (Kota Darulaman).

Pakatan Rakyat wrested control in Kedah in the last general election after it won 22 seats in the state assembly to the BN's 14.