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Thursday, 19 February 2009
Malaysian politics in turmoil
Malaysia’s prime minister accused the opposition on Thursday of insulting the royalty - potentially a seditious act - in a deepening political tussle over the control of a northern state.
KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s prime minister accused the opposition on Thursday of insulting the royalty - potentially a seditious act - in a deepening political tussle over the control of a northern state.
The conflict escalated on Wednesday when the Perak state assembly suspended Chief Minister Zambry Abd Kadir and his Cabinet - members of the ruling National Front coalition.
The suspension was ordered by assembly speaker V. Sivakumar, who belongs to the opposition People's Alliance coalition.
Sultan Azlan Shah, the state's titular head and hereditary ruler, appointed Mr Zambry and his Cabinet last month, ousting a People's Alliance government after three of its legislators defected and altering the assembly's balance of power.
Mr Zambry and the others 'were appointed by the sultan legally.
This kind of action can be regarded as not respecting the sultan's decision,' Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi told reporters.
He urged the state wing of the National Front to file a police complaint.
According to Malaysian law, any act that provokes hatred, contempt or disaffection against a state ruler is considered sedition, a crime punishable by up to three years in prison. But no one has been jailed in recent memory for insulting the royalty.
The development highlights the growing instability in Malaysian politics since the March 2008 elections when the National Front suffered its worst results ever. It lost control of five states including Perak, as well as its traditional two-thirds majority in Parliament, conceding a large number of seats to the People's Alliance.
The opposition claimed the sultan acted unconstitutionally in appointing Mr Zambry without waiting for a vote of confidence in the state assembly.
'I have decided that Dr Zambry is, with immediate effect, suspended and barred from attending State Assembly sessions for 18 months while the six (Cabinet) members are barred for 12 months,' Mr Sivakumar said in a statement.
Mr Sivakumar said Mr Zambry and the others had shown contempt for the assembly by taking office unconstitutionally. If the suspensions stand, the balance of power will return to the People's Alliance.
Striking down the sultan's decision is fraught with the risk of igniting racial conflicts in this multiethnic nation where inter-community relations are always on the edge.
Sultans in Malaysian states are highly respected by most Malays, who are a majority in the country and who believe decisions by sultans should not be questioned, especially by non-Malays.
Mr Sivakumar is from the minority ethnic Indian community.
Prime Minister Abdullah dismissed suggestions that a fresh election is the best solution to resolve the deadlock. He said the best solution was to let the National Front government continue to rule Perak. -- AP
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Malaysian politics in turmoil
19 February 2009
KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s prime minister accused the opposition on Thursday of insulting the royalty - potentially a seditious act - in a deepening political tussle over the control of a northern state.
The conflict escalated on Wednesday when the Perak state assembly suspended Chief Minister Zambry Abd Kadir and his Cabinet - members of the ruling National Front coalition.
The suspension was ordered by assembly speaker V. Sivakumar, who belongs to the opposition People's Alliance coalition.
Sultan Azlan Shah, the state's titular head and hereditary ruler, appointed Mr Zambry and his Cabinet last month, ousting a People's Alliance government after three of its legislators defected and altering the assembly's balance of power.
Mr Zambry and the others 'were appointed by the sultan legally.
This kind of action can be regarded as not respecting the sultan's decision,' Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi told reporters.
He urged the state wing of the National Front to file a police complaint.
According to Malaysian law, any act that provokes hatred, contempt or disaffection against a state ruler is considered sedition, a crime punishable by up to three years in prison. But no one has been jailed in recent memory for insulting the royalty.
The development highlights the growing instability in Malaysian politics since the March 2008 elections when the National Front suffered its worst results ever. It lost control of five states including Perak, as well as its traditional two-thirds majority in Parliament, conceding a large number of seats to the People's Alliance.
The opposition claimed the sultan acted unconstitutionally in appointing Mr Zambry without waiting for a vote of confidence in the state assembly.
'I have decided that Dr Zambry is, with immediate effect, suspended and barred from attending State Assembly sessions for 18 months while the six (Cabinet) members are barred for 12 months,' Mr Sivakumar said in a statement.
Mr Sivakumar said Mr Zambry and the others had shown contempt for the assembly by taking office unconstitutionally. If the suspensions stand, the balance of power will return to the People's Alliance.
Striking down the sultan's decision is fraught with the risk of igniting racial conflicts in this multiethnic nation where inter-community relations are always on the edge.
Sultans in Malaysian states are highly respected by most Malays, who are a majority in the country and who believe decisions by sultans should not be questioned, especially by non-Malays.
Mr Sivakumar is from the minority ethnic Indian community.
Prime Minister Abdullah dismissed suggestions that a fresh election is the best solution to resolve the deadlock. He said the best solution was to let the National Front government continue to rule Perak. -- AP
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