Isnin, 16 Februari 2009 •
The frenzy whipped up by the Umno-BN over the constitutional crisis in Perak has alarmed many Malaysians - even Malays.
Now, the King’s unscheduled announcement of PM Abdullah’s resignation next month has prompted greater fears among lawmakers that their territory might be encroached on.
Suara KeADILan has included a compilation of quotes from both sides of the political divide, depicting the hysteria that unfolded over the past two week.
By Wong Choon Mei
The Malaysian King today announced in Parliament the resignation of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is due to step down on March 31.
This is an unprecedented move, alarming lawmakers - who had hoped to persuade the 68-year Abdullah not to relinquish control to his unpopular deputy, Najib Abdul Razak.
Abdullah’s term officially expires in 2013, but he was ousted by Najib and was forced to offer to step down earlier.
“This is a bit unusual because the removal of a Prime Minister can only be done by a vote in Parliament,” said Tian Chua, information chief of KeADILan. “Again we hope, the Rulers will not take sides.”
The King had earlier told Parliament he was disappointed with certain parties for playing up racial issues, comments that were welcomed after a torrent of intimidating reports from the Umno-BN media seeking to whip up Malay sentiments over the rights of the Rulers.
“Even though our country has been independent for 51 years, narrow racial issues are still brought up by certain parties and have been publicly debated,” Tuanku Mizan said.
“I wish to stress that my government will not hesitate to take action against any party that tries to divide the people so as to ensure racial harmony and peace is protected.”Rulers want greater participation in governance?The state of Perak has been gripped by a constitutional crisis after its Sultan opted to transfer the state government to the Umno-BN, declining to heed the advice of Pakatan Rakyat Menteri Besar Nizar Jamaluddin to call a snap election that would have enabled Perakians to choose the leadership they wanted.
The controversial decision has sparked great debate, with Umno Youth leaders in particular warning off other parties from questioning the move, which obviously is to their benefit. Umno leaders are also taking advantage of the situation to grandstand for votes ahead of their internal party polls next month.
There is fear that the Rulers might be instigated by Umno-BN to move in a group towards more aggressive participation in the governance of the country. Their roles are largely formal and regulated by the constitution.
“The racial and cultural diversity that we possess must be turned into one of our strengths,” Tuanku Mizan said.
He also lashed out at lies and rumours spread indiscriminately on the Internet.
“Lies and false news that have been spread by certain quarters including blog sites have caused confusion among the people. We should learn from history where the fall of empires and civilisations have been caused by lies, jealousy and division among the people.”
Parliament will sit from Feb 16 to March 19.
What did Karpal actually say?
As far as I am concerned, the Sultan can be taken to court as I was initially charged to look into the matter but Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim and Pakatan Rakyat feel that the Sultan must not be sued.”
In my opinion, the Sultan must be sued because there is no other way out to put out that the Sultan’s action was unconstitutional.- DAP chairman Karpal Singh
Was it insolent or disrespectful?
According to Umno:
“Surely you can’t question the wisdom of Sultan Azlan Shah. His decision has to be respected. If you look at it from the point of royal customs, this certainly can be seen as tainting the name of the Sultan and an act of treason.- Umno deputy president aspirant Muhyiddin Yassin
Given this as well as the many reports lodged against him, we urge the Attorney-General’s chambers to institute legal action against Karpal Singh. We urge the strictest action to be instituted against those who do this.- Umno Youth chief aspirant Mohd Khir Toyo
This is not a constitutional crisis. This is a crisis of power. The anger is not just from Malays but the rakyat as the opposition has broken the principles of the Rukunegara,- Umno Youth chief aspirant Khairy Jamaluddin
I have advised them to remain calm but it is not easy when faced with provocation of this nature against one of our Sultans.- Umno Youth vice president aspirant Hishammuddin HusseinAccording to Pakatan Rakyat:
They have been embarrassing the royalty by giving Malay boys RM50 and a t-shirt to gather but only end up with 1,000 to 1,500 people. If we were actually challenging the sovereignty of the monarchy, why are there less than 2,000 people at the gatherings?
Umno should stop as this is shameful. And how come it is only Umno Youth? Where is the rest of BN? If the rulers were really being challenged, even I would join the protest.- PAS vice president Husam Musa
If anyone should be tried for treason, it should be Mahathir!- DAP vice chairman Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim
When there was a dispute over who should be the Menteri Besar in Terengganu last year, Umno supporters even carried banners insulting the Terengganu Sultan as Raja Bintang or Animal King!- KeADILan deputy president Syed Husin Ali
Pakatan Rakyat never intended to offend or to be antagonistic towards the monarchy. The Sultan should also understand the peoples’ aspirations.
Pakatan’s action is aimed at upholding democratic principles and to preserve the integrity of the royal institution from political manipulation.- KeADILan information chief Tian ChuaIs it treason and can the Internal Security Act be invoked?
No one exercising his constitutional right of access to the courts should be branded as being disloyal to the Rulers or threatened with preventive detention under the ISA.
Was it not the BN government that sought to justify the removal of the personal immunity of the Malay Rulers in 1993 on the grounds that no one was above the law? Leave it to the court to decide if the Pakatan Rakyat has a case or not.- prominent lawyer Raja Aziz Addruse
Now, the King’s unscheduled announcement of PM Abdullah’s resignation next month has prompted greater fears among lawmakers that their territory might be encroached on.
Suara KeADILan has included a compilation of quotes from both sides of the political divide, depicting the hysteria that unfolded over the past two week.
By Wong Choon Mei
The Malaysian King today announced in Parliament the resignation of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is due to step down on March 31.
This is an unprecedented move, alarming lawmakers - who had hoped to persuade the 68-year Abdullah not to relinquish control to his unpopular deputy, Najib Abdul Razak.
Abdullah’s term officially expires in 2013, but he was ousted by Najib and was forced to offer to step down earlier.
“This is a bit unusual because the removal of a Prime Minister can only be done by a vote in Parliament,” said Tian Chua, information chief of KeADILan. “Again we hope, the Rulers will not take sides.”
The King had earlier told Parliament he was disappointed with certain parties for playing up racial issues, comments that were welcomed after a torrent of intimidating reports from the Umno-BN media seeking to whip up Malay sentiments over the rights of the Rulers.
“Even though our country has been independent for 51 years, narrow racial issues are still brought up by certain parties and have been publicly debated,” Tuanku Mizan said.
“I wish to stress that my government will not hesitate to take action against any party that tries to divide the people so as to ensure racial harmony and peace is protected.”Rulers want greater participation in governance?The state of Perak has been gripped by a constitutional crisis after its Sultan opted to transfer the state government to the Umno-BN, declining to heed the advice of Pakatan Rakyat Menteri Besar Nizar Jamaluddin to call a snap election that would have enabled Perakians to choose the leadership they wanted.
The controversial decision has sparked great debate, with Umno Youth leaders in particular warning off other parties from questioning the move, which obviously is to their benefit. Umno leaders are also taking advantage of the situation to grandstand for votes ahead of their internal party polls next month.
There is fear that the Rulers might be instigated by Umno-BN to move in a group towards more aggressive participation in the governance of the country. Their roles are largely formal and regulated by the constitution.
“The racial and cultural diversity that we possess must be turned into one of our strengths,” Tuanku Mizan said.
He also lashed out at lies and rumours spread indiscriminately on the Internet.
“Lies and false news that have been spread by certain quarters including blog sites have caused confusion among the people. We should learn from history where the fall of empires and civilisations have been caused by lies, jealousy and division among the people.”
Parliament will sit from Feb 16 to March 19.
What did Karpal actually say?
As far as I am concerned, the Sultan can be taken to court as I was initially charged to look into the matter but Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim and Pakatan Rakyat feel that the Sultan must not be sued.”
In my opinion, the Sultan must be sued because there is no other way out to put out that the Sultan’s action was unconstitutional.- DAP chairman Karpal Singh
Was it insolent or disrespectful?
According to Umno:
“Surely you can’t question the wisdom of Sultan Azlan Shah. His decision has to be respected. If you look at it from the point of royal customs, this certainly can be seen as tainting the name of the Sultan and an act of treason.- Umno deputy president aspirant Muhyiddin Yassin
Given this as well as the many reports lodged against him, we urge the Attorney-General’s chambers to institute legal action against Karpal Singh. We urge the strictest action to be instituted against those who do this.- Umno Youth chief aspirant Mohd Khir Toyo
This is not a constitutional crisis. This is a crisis of power. The anger is not just from Malays but the rakyat as the opposition has broken the principles of the Rukunegara,- Umno Youth chief aspirant Khairy Jamaluddin
I have advised them to remain calm but it is not easy when faced with provocation of this nature against one of our Sultans.- Umno Youth vice president aspirant Hishammuddin HusseinAccording to Pakatan Rakyat:
They have been embarrassing the royalty by giving Malay boys RM50 and a t-shirt to gather but only end up with 1,000 to 1,500 people. If we were actually challenging the sovereignty of the monarchy, why are there less than 2,000 people at the gatherings?
Umno should stop as this is shameful. And how come it is only Umno Youth? Where is the rest of BN? If the rulers were really being challenged, even I would join the protest.- PAS vice president Husam Musa
If anyone should be tried for treason, it should be Mahathir!- DAP vice chairman Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim
When there was a dispute over who should be the Menteri Besar in Terengganu last year, Umno supporters even carried banners insulting the Terengganu Sultan as Raja Bintang or Animal King!- KeADILan deputy president Syed Husin Ali
Pakatan Rakyat never intended to offend or to be antagonistic towards the monarchy. The Sultan should also understand the peoples’ aspirations.
Pakatan’s action is aimed at upholding democratic principles and to preserve the integrity of the royal institution from political manipulation.- KeADILan information chief Tian ChuaIs it treason and can the Internal Security Act be invoked?
No one exercising his constitutional right of access to the courts should be branded as being disloyal to the Rulers or threatened with preventive detention under the ISA.
Was it not the BN government that sought to justify the removal of the personal immunity of the Malay Rulers in 1993 on the grounds that no one was above the law? Leave it to the court to decide if the Pakatan Rakyat has a case or not.- prominent lawyer Raja Aziz Addruse
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