POLITICAL QUAGMIRE IN NORTHERN STATE FIZZLES OUT

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 6 (Bernama) -- The political quagmire in northern state of
Perak dissipated after ruler Sultan Azlan Shah ordered Chief Minister Mohammad
Nizar Jamaluddin and his state executive councillors to resign as he had failed
to command the confidence of the majority in the state legislative assembly.

The Sultan of Perak also did not consent to the dissolution of the state
assembly as requested by the People's Alliance (PR) state government to end the
crisis, which culminated after three PR assemblymen quit their parties and
declared themselves as Independents who supported ruling Barisan Nasional (BN)
coalition.

Although Mohammad Nizar refused to step down, according to the state
constitution, he was no longer the chief minister.

Sultan Azlan Shah had consented Pangkor assemblyman Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir's
appointment as the new chief minister after BN had shown that it commanded the
support of the majority in the state assembly with its 28 assemblymen and the
three Independents.

Zambry will be sworn in at Istana Iskandariah, Kuala Kangsar Friday
afternoon, and the state executive councillors on Feb 10.

A constitutional law expert dismissed the suggestion that Mohammad Nizar's
refusal to step down would spark a constitutional crisis.

Prof Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi of Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) said the
Sultan of Perak "has the power to dismiss his Menteri Besar even if the latter
refuses to tender his resignation after being decreed to do so".

However, he said, the power to do so was not spelt out in the Perak
constitution "but the Interpretation Act says the power to appoint also includes
the power to remove".

When the dust settles down, the new state government should focus on efforts
to develop Perak and improve the livelihood of the people in bracing the
economic slowdown.

The political crisis since Jan 25 has caused anguish among the people as the
state government was weakened with the defection.

The Ruler's decision not to dissolve the state assembly was to avert a
state election.

Mohammad Nizar on Wednesday dissolved the state assembly without getting the
consent of the Sultan to salvage People's Alliance (PR)'s sinking ship.

Whether the days ahead will be calm depends on how the people of Perak react
to the power play.

They have a big role in ensuring the stability of the state and therefore,
should refrain from taking the law into their own hands.
-- BERNAMA