Teropong Dunya Aki Andan: May 2009

Dear readers

All are welcome to leave comments.

In Dayak Iban system of belief there is no Aki Andan but only the legendary Ini Andan. Aki Andan is deliberately used here merely to denote a male counterpart and not in any way to be construed as her spouse as there being none. Ini Andan occupies a very special social and spiritual station. She is also in possession of many special skills, which among others, the ability to foretell with accuracy what is to come in the near future and also often the saviour of the wounded and downtrodden. Not specifically endowed with such skills or abilities, hence her modern male counterpart has to use the 'teropong' to look into the distant future.

Thursday, May 07, 2009

Going back 500 years behind

I am absolutely convinced what is happening in Perak, and especially its Legislative Assembly sitting today, is a laughting stock to all those are familiar with parliamentary democracy. I cannot imagine the shadow government led by Zambry Abdul Kadir attempting a coup detat over the legitimate government led by Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin.

The law as it stands is very clear that the Head of State does NOT possess the power to remove the Chief Minister/Menteri Besar UNLESS a vote of no confidence has been taken in the DUN and where the Chief Minister has been defeated. But even then the defeated Chief Minister has another alternative, that is, to dissolve the Legislative Assembly to pave way for a fresh election. But if the Head of State refuses to give consent to dissolve the Legislative Assembly, the Chief Minister should tender his resignation and his entire cabinet en bloc. Only at this stage the Head of State can remove the Chief Minister if he refuses to tender his resignation. To date there has been no motion for vote of no confidence been tabled. So how could the ruler exercise his power to remove the legitimately appointed Chief Minister? No doubt he appointed him but he cannot remove him without the due process. Another point to note is that, it would be a deviation from constitutional convention for the ruler to withhold consent to dissolve the Legislative Assembly. If he does it would subject him to legitimate criticism. That is why in England (upon which our parliamentary democracy is built) the Queen has never withhold her consent to dissolve the parliament.

The solution is very clear for the shadow cabinet led by Zambry instead of going back 500 years behind democracy. Zambry either tables a motion for a vote of no confidence be taken against the Chief Minister and thereafter matters would follow their natural flow of sequence or just leaves Nizar with his job that had been entrusted by the voters of Perak. The other solution is of course to assist Nizar to persuade His Royal Highness to disssolve the Legislative Assembly and seek fresh mandate.

To continue doing like what is happening today is very uncivilised and a bane for democracy and a laughing stock for all lovers of democracy. The monkey-like bahaviour is so embarrassing and a bad role model for posterity.