The Malaysian Insider

By Baradan Kuppusamy

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 9 — The Barisan Nasional has won the legal battle to keep Perak but the political battle for the hearts and minds of the people has just started — and it remains an uphill battle for BN.

“The vast majority of the people reject this court appointed Mentri Besar,” said Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran, echoing the feelings of Pakatan Rakyat (PR) supporters across the country.

He told The Malaysian Insider that PR members are shocked and disappointed with the outcome.

By Syed Jaymal Zahiid

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 9 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak told Pakatan Rakyat (PR) to accept today’s Federal Court ruling that upheld his Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition as the legitimate Perak government.

Najib (picture) said the verdict which found in favour of Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir was decided by the country’s top court and that its decision is legally supreme.

“Though those [who] lost may have a differing view of the judgment, we have to accept the decision of the country’s highest court,” he told a press conference here.

By Syed Jaymal Zahiid and Debra Chong

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 9 — Toppled Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin said today’s Federal Court ruling that upheld Barisan Nasional (BN) as the rightful state government will lead to an “absolute monarchy.”

“If this decision goes on and becomes the law of the day, it will lead to an absolute monarchy,” Nizar said after the apex court declared Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir the rightful mentri besar.

“That means the Ruler can now dismiss the prime minister or the mentri besar at any time,” said the grim-faced PAS leader.

While Nizar accepted the court decision, he claimed the ruling had “neglected constitutional precedents” and ignored the wishes of the voters.

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 9 — Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, who failed in his bid to get the Federal Court to declare him as the rightful Perak mentri besar, is urging Pakatan Rakyat (PR) supporters to be calm.

Perak PR leaders would meet to discuss the next course of action, he told reporters after the court’s decision at the Palace of Justice, here, today.

A five-man bench today unanimously declared the appointment of Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir as Perak Menteri Besar by Sultan Azlan Shah as constitutional.

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 9 — Former de facto Law Minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim described the Federal Court’s ruling favouring the Barisan Nasional-led (BN) Perak government as an embarrassment.

“It’s warped legal reasoning. Like I said before these people for political expediency have abandoned legal principles,” Zaid told The Malaysian Insider.

In a 5-0 ruling, the Federal Court earlier today declared Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir as the legitimate Perak mentri besar, ending the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) attempt to regain control of the state which it lost about one year ago.