The present crisis in Perak could have been averted if His Royal Highness Sultan Azlan Shah had dissolved the Legislative Assembly on February 5.
The present scenario in Perak is seen as a State without a legitimate government.
The casualty in such an environment primarily is the rakyat. If the situation is not carefully addressed and arrested quickly the rule of law in Perak will be in jeopardy and anarchy will be the order of the day.
Our Rulers are not absolute monarchs. They are in essence constitutional monarchs. Their decisions are not absolute. The implications of their decisions can be discussed and commented by the people and the media.
The ramifications of the decision not to dissolve the Legislative Assembly on that day are now seen, heard and felt.
This is not the time to look into the technicalities and strict interpretation of the law and the constitution.
This is not even the appropriate occasion for the intervention of the courts.
There is a higher constitutional principle namely the doctrine of separation of powers to be protected. It is ultimately for the rakyat of Perak to decide their own destiny.
That is what democracy is all about.
There clearly appears a situation where no one member of the legislative assembly could command the confidence of the majority in the same Assembly.
I therefore appeal to His Royal Highness to dissolve the Legislative Assembly and pave the way for fresh elections. Let there be a government of the rakyat, by the rakyat and for the rakyat in Perak.
Dato' Param Cumaraswamy was the former UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers.
The present scenario in Perak is seen as a State without a legitimate government.
The casualty in such an environment primarily is the rakyat. If the situation is not carefully addressed and arrested quickly the rule of law in Perak will be in jeopardy and anarchy will be the order of the day.
Our Rulers are not absolute monarchs. They are in essence constitutional monarchs. Their decisions are not absolute. The implications of their decisions can be discussed and commented by the people and the media.
The ramifications of the decision not to dissolve the Legislative Assembly on that day are now seen, heard and felt.
This is not the time to look into the technicalities and strict interpretation of the law and the constitution.
This is not even the appropriate occasion for the intervention of the courts.
There is a higher constitutional principle namely the doctrine of separation of powers to be protected. It is ultimately for the rakyat of Perak to decide their own destiny.
That is what democracy is all about.
There clearly appears a situation where no one member of the legislative assembly could command the confidence of the majority in the same Assembly.
I therefore appeal to His Royal Highness to dissolve the Legislative Assembly and pave the way for fresh elections. Let there be a government of the rakyat, by the rakyat and for the rakyat in Perak.
Dato' Param Cumaraswamy was the former UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers.
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