Friday, April 17, 2009

FRIDAY GUEST BLOGGER: LAW PROFESSOR AZMI SHAROM

Maybe it is appropriate to revisit what this Spurs fan cum law professor wrote in his Star column in February. It is appropriate because if things were done right the Federal Court’s decision favoring the shooed-in Menteri Besar of Perak wouldn’t have taken place - a total waste of time and breeding more suspicions on the judiciary in the process.

+++++

AZMI wrote:

"Sultans and Rajas are constitutional monarchs and have powers determined by the Federal Constitution."

I wish that all those people calling for Karpal Singh’s head would just take a minute and pick up the Federal Constitution. Turn to Article 182 and you will see provisions for aSpecial Court”.

The job of this Special Court is to try civil proceedings brought against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong or any of the Sultans.

This was not always the case. Before 1993, the rulers had absolute immunity. And before 1984, they actually had the power to veto legislation. These powers were taken away by the Barisan Nasional government headed by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

DAP chairman Karpal Singh’s desire for the Sultan of Perak to be brought to court is reasonable and allowed for by law. Besides, I think it is a good thing that the King and the Sultans can be brought to court.

You see, the days of the all-powerful king is gone now and that is, for me at least, progress. It shows that we are a society that values democracy.

Yes, we have Sultans and Rajas, but they are constitutional monarchs. This means that they have powers determined by the Constitution and not some divine power to do as they wish. This being the case, surely if they overstep their boundaries, if they behave in an unconstitutional manner, they should be challenged – respectfully, properly – in a court of law.

Now, did the Sultan of Perak act in a way that was unconstitutional when he appointed a new Mentri Besar? It is arguable.

The power to appoint a Mentri Besar is clearly at the discretion of the Sultan. This is one of the few real powers that he has. A power that he does not have is to dismiss an existing Mentri Besar.

Usually this does not raise many problems. During the last general election, we saw the Sultan of Perak and the Sultan of Terengganu both deciding on who should be the new Mentri Besar of their respective states.

They made decisions that went against the desires of the majority party in both state legislative assemblies. The two monarchs thought that their choices commanded the confidence of the two Houses and were the best men for the job. It was their prerogative.

But the current case in Perak is different. The Sultan chose a new Mentri Besar while the old one was still in office. By appointing a new man, he was in effect sacking the old one. And sacking the Mentri Besar is not within his constitutional powers.

I think there is room for debate on this matter and, ideally, it should be settled in the Special Court.

Actually, I am rather curious as to why the Sultan did not just dissolve the state assembly when requested. All this party-hopping business was wreaking havoc on the public’s faith in the democratic system.

Surely, the clearest and fairest way out of the debacle was to have fresh state elections.

For the sake of continued faith in democracy, I would have thought the Sultan, who has spoken many times so eloquently about democracy and rule of law, would have just said “right, let the people decide again”.

After all, the greatest threat to political, and thus national, stability are a people who have lost their faith in the democratic system. It is only when such faith is lost that extreme behaviour emerges.

Anyway, what is done is done; legal battles are being fought over the Perak matter and that particular crisis will be settled in its own time.

Meanwhile, there is much that can still be achieved. The states ruled by Pakatan Rakyat must continue to push their agenda forward and live up to their election promises.

For example, I notice with a little dismay that the new Selangor government has yet to withdraw the case against Sagong Tasi.

In 2002, Sagong obtained a judgment in his favour by the Court of Appeal which held that his Orang Asli community had a propriety interest in their customary land. This meant that when the land was taken by the government, they should have been properly compensated.

This case was against the former state government and, of course, Datuk Seri Khir Toyo and his men appealed the decision.

Considering the fact that Pakatan Rakyat is concerned about justice and fair treatment to all Malaysians, and considering also that the last MB of Perak was making headway in granting proper titles to the Orang Asli in his state, the current Selangor government should just stop the action.

Yes, the battle of Perak must continue. But there are many other battles to be fought and won. Fairness and justice must be striven for on all fronts, continuously. It’s easy to forget this amid the shrill cries of “traitor” by the ill-informed.

+++++


and THIS is mighty INTERESTING too....more on kangaroo courts





14 comments:

Anonymous said...

.

The crisis in the silver state is beyond just a simple coup. it has something to do with the supposedly rallying point for the "bangkitlah melayu." of course thanks to tun M - with his obsolete and hostile 60’s mindset - thinking that ruthlessness would bring malays togather and boy did he got that all wrong.

It is a shame that the ruler of the silver state - aside from being too near sighted could be so easily fooled into this ploy by bypassing the Constitutions and yet have to audacity to tall talk about laws.

So for all the past supposedly, goods coming from the silver state ruler - everything now is just a BIG NOUGHT.

And the question arise is – is the ruler of silver state racist?

you may delete this if warranted.

.

Anonymous said...

sigh : bikin tak sama cakap ...cakap
pandai bikin enggan, tiu ...@#$%^&* !!

Anonymous said...

I was always fond of Azmi Sharom despite him being a lawyer.

lanaibeach said...

The Dracula won
In the battle of the nights
Sucking blood humans sacrifice
Under the bright moon
Where nights turning days

His little devils
Riding high spreading wings
Flying in the nights
Searching for preys
Willing to sell their souls
For silver of dollars

The rules of harmony
Shattered for greed of immortality
Into it the hell of fire
Burning for the sins

The Dracula sings
The songs of make believe
Under the moonlit nights
The greedy souls sacrifice

Don't lose your way
Of power and wealth
It is here the weakest soul dies
Into fire The Lord commands
So think about it
Before you sell your soul
For silver of dollars

Samuel Goh Kim Eng said...

NOBODY LONGS FOR ANY WRONG

When a wrong is a wrong
Please don't blame it on any Wong
Let's not be easily taken by wrong song
When it's clear what in law people long (for)

(C) Samuel Goh Kim Eng - 170409
http://MotivationInMotion.blogspot.com
Fri. 17th Apr. 2009.

Anonymous said...

You are in the habit of listening to what you want to hear and not what is the whole picture.

Azmi view is shared here becasue it suits your purpose.

You should be objective by listeninbg to all sides.

This Perak debacle is taking us towards a racial clash. It's no good.

Be more responsible.

Anonymous said...

The battle of Perak is not yet over. Even the Fed Court already ruled that Siva has no power to stop Zambry from attending state assembly, it just an academic and not necessary !!!!

http://nmjnh.wordpress.com/2009/04/17/krisis-perak-belum-berakhir-keputusan-mahkamah-sekadar-akademik-malaysiakini/

Anonymous said...

Piece of shit! There is justice only if the outcome suits your agenda.

Anonymous said...

No need Azmi to educate us ... by now most educated rakyat already understand & aware of such.

Rakyat all know that Sultan cant dismissed / sack the MB.

Only those BLINDs & pure UMNO breeds still lots to learn. They shd open up thier mind or use thier intellegence.

ipohHUNK

zorro said...

Anon11:29am...fair, which side do you want me to listen to. The Sultan has no power to sack an MB. What racial clash are you blabbering about?

Anon12:45pm...you are right, and my agenda is CHANGE....just like you need to change your underwear.

Both of you...thanks for visiting...visit more often as I am compiling examples for a series on "Diseased Minds:Depleted Mines"

Anonymous said...

Mmm. Why Perak Sultan did not just dissove the DUN? Interesting. What's Gamuda share price now? Is Gamuda getting any significant contracts?

Anonymous said...

very true ...

Hean Tin said...

keep going back to the same places!

Hean Tin said...

I believe the power to appoint comes with the power to dismiss. So, if it is expressly written that the Sultan can appoint a MB, he should be deemed to be able to dismiss a MB too without express provision to indicate it. But I do agree that in a serious case of doubt where legitimacy is in question and hence affecting respectibility, it should have been referred to the people again to decide through elections.