the rule of law/kedaulatan undang-undang
A shameful scene is unfolding in Perak.
Let me follow up on what I said earlier about the status of the Chief Minister.
The Constitution is the highest law of the land. It is the foundation and source of legal authority, and the Rulers are sworn to protect and uphold it.
According to the Constitution, Dato’ Seri Nizar Jamaluddin is Menteri Besar until he resigns of his own accord, or is removed by a vote of no-confidence in a formal sitting of the assembly. The Constitution makes no provision for his removal by any other means, including by petitions or instructions from any other authority.
Two principles need clarifying in the light of today’s events:
First, the government of the day is established according to rules and principles codified in the Constitution. This is the difference between legitimately formed government and tyranny, which is rule by the law of the jungle.
Second, legitimate constitutional government draws all its authority from the consent of the people and only from that consent. The people consent because it is their government formed according to their constitution, whose leaders they have chosen through free and fair elections.
We need to test that consent periodically. At key points such as when governments are to be formed or to be dissolved, the Constitution provides for formal, definitive tests to find out how much of the people’s ‘consent’, or support, a government really has.
So we conduct elections to test how much support a candidate for leadership has among the people. The question is posed in elections governed by rules and oversight agreed ahead of time. If those elections are not held, or if there is some doubt that they are free and fair, then the question of legitimate leadership is not determined. It doesn’t matter how many men with flaming torches march chanting your name in the middle of the night. You need to prove you have the support of voters in a free and fair election.
Similarly, the Constitution provides for a definitive way to test if the Chief Minister or the Prime Minister commands a majority in the dewan or in Parliament, as the case may be. We put the question to a vote of confidence on the floor of the Dewan. Only the answer of the assembly counts. It doesn’t matter how many sworn statements, defections, press conferences, and declarations you have, nor what forms of advertisement, display, inducement or force you bring to bear on the question.
To formally test the mandate of the current government, whether in Perak, Sabah or the Federal government, the question must either be put to the people through state elections, or to the assemblymen through a formal vote in the dewan. These are the only tests that count in our constitutional democracy.
This is what it means to be a parliamentary democracy. To remove and install governments in any other way is to violate the Constitution, erode the rule of law, and to run the risk of forming an illegal government.
Legitimate authority can only be established through the democratic means spelled out in our constitution. Rightful authority is an entirely different thing from the brute power that can be bought, sold or seized by force.
The invisible laws make our government, nation and society possible. I won’t begin to describe the harm we would do these things if we began to ratify power achieved without regard for the rule of law.
–
kedaulatan undang-undang
Suatu adegan yang memalukan kini berlangsung di Perak.
Izinkan saya membuat susulan tentang apa yang telah saya katakan tentang status Menteri Besar.
Perlembagaan merupakan undang-undang tertinggi di negara kita. Ianya asas dan sumber kuasa undang-undang; Raja-Raja Melayu telah mengangkat sumpah supaya membela dan mendukungnya.
Mengikut Perlembagaan, Dato’ Seri Nizar Jamaluddin merupakan Menteri Besar sehinggalah beliau sendiri meletakkan jawatannya, atau disingkirkan melalui undi tidak percaya di dalam Dewan Undangan Negeri semasa ia bersesi. Tiada peruntukan di dalam Perlembagaan untuk pemecatan dengan cara lain, walaupun dengan mengemukakan petisyen ataupun diarah oleh mana-mana kuasa lain.
Dua prinsip asas perlu dijelaskan memandangkan apa yang telah berlaku hari ini:
Pertama sekali, kerajaan semasa ditubuhkan mengikut peraturan dan prinsip-prinsip yang termaktub dalam Perlembagaan. Inilah bezanya antara kerajaan yang ditubuhkan secara sah dengan perampasan kuasa, iaitu cara yang tidak bertamadun.
Kedua, kerajaan yang sah dan berperlembagaan memperolehi kuasanya daripada keizinan rakyat, dan hanyah daripada keizinan itu. Rakyat memberi keizinan ini kerana ianya kerajaan mereka yang ditubuhkan mengikut Perlembagaan mereka, dan pemimpin mereka dipilih melalui pilihanraya yang bersih dan adil.
Dari masa ke semasa kita perlu menguji keizinan itu. Di saat-saat genting seperti apabila kerajaan akan ditubuhkan atau dibubarkan, Perlembagaan memberi peruntukan supaya melakukan ujian yang formal dan muktamad untuk mengetahui betapa kuat sokongan, atau keizinan, yang diberi kepada kerajaan itu.
Oleh itu, kita kendalikan pilihanraya untuk menguji setinggi mana sebenarnya sokongan rakyat diberi kepada seorang bakal pemimpin. Soalan ini akan dijawab semasa pilihanraya yang ditadbir dengan peraturan dan kekhilafan yang dipersetujui terlebih dahulu. Sekiranya pilihanraya tidak diadakan, atau terdapat keraguan yang ianya bersih lagi adil, jadi kepimpinan yang sah tidak dapat ditentukan. Tidak kira betapa ramai orang yang datang meriakkan nama kamu di tengah malam. Apa yang perlu dibuktikan hanyalah sokongan para pengundi semasa pilihanraya.
Perlembagaan juga memberi peruntukan yang muktamad untuk menguji samada Menteri Besar atau Perdana Menteri mendapat sokongan majoriti di Dewan Undangan Negeri atau Parlimen. Ianya melalui undi tak percaya di dalam Dewan tersebut. Jawapan yang diberi Ahli-ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (atau Parlimen) sahaja yang boleh diambil kira. Kenyataan bersumpah, berpaling tadah, persidangan akhbar, pengisytiharan, pengiklanan atau apa jua dorongan lain tidak boleh diambil kira.
Untuk menguji secara formal mandat kerajaan semasa, samada di Perak, Sabah atau kerajaan Persekutuan, ia mesti dilakukan oleh rakyat melalui pilihanraya, atau melalui undian di dalam Dewan Undangan oleh Ahli-ahli Dewan Undangan. Ini sahaja cara yang muktamad dalam sebuah demokrasi berperlembagaan.
Inilah ertinya sebuah demokrasi berparlimen. Menubuhkan atau menjatuhkan kerajaan melalui apa jua cara lain melanggar prinsip-prinsip Perlembagaan, mencabuli hak undang-undang dan mengambil risiko membentuk kerajaan yang tidak sah.
Kuasa yang sah hanya boleh didirikan melalui cara-cara demokratik yang tertera di dalam Perlembagaan kita. Ia bertentangan daripada kekuasaan yang dijual-beli atau diambil secara paksa.
Undang-undang ini yang membolehkan kita berfungsi sebagai sebuah negara, kerajaan dan masyarakat. Sekiranya kita mula mempersetujui kuasa yang didapati tanpa mengambil kira undang-undang yang sedia ada, kesannya amat buruk sekali.
Dear Tengku,
Can you fax this good writing of yours to Sultan Perak?
You are the leader we need during these tiring time.
Timmy
timmysay
February 5, 2009 at 9:05 pm
That’s my man of this hour.You have shown the way forward.A man with sense!
stanleythomas
February 5, 2009 at 9:15 pm
Salam Tengku,
Saya memohon agar Tengku dapat mempersembah hujah ini ke bawah Duli Tuanku Sultan Azlan Shah.
Sekiranya benar ‘katak2′ ini telah melompat ke BN, melaksanakan undi tidak percaya ke atas MB Nizar pastinya mudah dilakukan.
Seburuk-buruk Anwar Ibrahim dalam pelan ‘16 Sept’nya yang tidak kesampaian, beliau merancang menggunakan pentas parlimen sebagai medan pengambilalihan kuasa. Bukan secara paksa atau melalui arahan pihak istana.
Allahu’alam.
abuluqman04
February 5, 2009 at 9:27 pm
Not knowing the law and claiming innocent is pathetic;
Knowing the law and acting against it is despicable;
Knowing the law and bending it to suit one’s agenda is unpardonable.
Knowing the truth but not telling it is cowardice;
Knowing the truth but not defending it is tyranny;
Knowing the truth but bending it to suit one’s agenda is evil.
Congratulations Tengku! You have told the truth and uphold the law – even though you may never be the President of UMNO nor the PM of Malaysia – but you will be remembered as a Prince of the people with principle – saying and doing what is right, even though you might have blew your chance of becoming the UMNO President or Malaysian PM
penanglaksa
February 5, 2009 at 9:44 pm
Dear Tengku,
Honestly, what are you still doing in UMNO. Its so clear that UMNO is abusing all the possible means to destroy the democracy in Malaysia. From the media to police to Election Commission and i wonder which party the court is going to side.
Please resign from UMNO and be an ‘independant’ MP as a sign of protest.
e96anban
February 5, 2009 at 9:46 pm
Dear Tengku,
Thank you for being the few reasonable during the darkest days of democracy in Malaysia. It is most unfortunate that the rule of rasuah had prevailed and the check and balance against the very such rule of rasuah had failed. One just cannot imagine how worse the rule of rasuah in the days ahead will be. it is obvious that the next rule of rasuah will be acquital of the two tainted ADUN on charges of RASUAH SEX. God save Malaysia.
alibabamahathir
February 5, 2009 at 9:54 pm
Dear Tunku,
I believe what has happened has happened and it is in accordance with the law.
God is great. God save Malaysia.
saoandco
February 5, 2009 at 10:19 pm
[...] To Tengku Razaleigh, Pakatan Rakyat remains the constitutional state government until they are defeated by a vote of no confidence by the BN and Independent assemblymen (read here). [...]
Perak in Crisis or is it really? « Proud 2B Malaysian
February 5, 2009 at 10:24 pm
Dear Tengku,
Truly agree with you on the Rule of Law.
Sad to see this great nation Malaysia administered by the British Tuans, then handed over to the Malaysian TUANS under Bapa Malaysia Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra & his Malaysian cabinet of TRUE TUANS managing the system of Wesminster style Democracy & with the Rule of Law in 1957, getting “Hijacked & Betrayed” by the “Elite UMNO Ketetuanan BEGGARS” in 1969.
For 40 years, instead if teaching their own kind to “Learn to catch their own FISH”, they took the easy way out to maintain their “False” sense of Security & Power by using the “Ketetuanan (BEGGAR)” policy – you vote UMNO, we give you “Fish” & the rot set in to what it is today & the beat goes on….!
For the others, “Either you are with us…..or else….you will be “MIA or Eliminated”, period !
This great nation, its assets & its Anak Bangsa Malaysia have been abused for the last 40 years by these “Moronic Idiots & their Goons” through “Gutter Politics” & the “Law of the Jungle”.
Through “Devine” intervention, UMNO, its Leaders & their Lapdogs are now “Destroying” each other with their “Power, Greed & Henious Crimes”.
Our prayers to God Almighty seeking “Truth, Justice, Freedom & Equality” will be answered.
Every new day will be another “New Revelation” to reveal the “Truth” in its Self Destruct motion towards its “Demise”.
Just give them enough rope to “Hang” themselves at every turn in their “Final” chapter.
May God bless, guide & protect this great nation, its remaining assets & its Anak Bangsa Malaysia forthwith.
flyer168
February 5, 2009 at 10:46 pm
Dear Tengku,
I have met you before a few times, once at berbuka puasa at your house, and i learnt the high standards of humble regal you shown to the rakyat.
As a chinese who grown up the whole time here and later became a muslim, I also learnt the many wise sayings from the local culture:
Raja yang adil, raja yang disembah; raja yang zalim, raja yang disanggah.
Which (i hope the malay above is correct, apologies if memory fails me): A just king is regarded; an unjust one is discarded (my own poetic touch)
With this i remain your even humbler subject,
Redhuan D. Oon
http://www.red1.org
red1daniel
February 6, 2009 at 6:55 am
Sir
Would you comment on the possibility that all these shenanigans in Perak were actually engineered by Pakatan to lay a trap for Najib?
Umno would certainly know that this is not good for the next General Elections, wouldn’t it? What were Najib’s inner circle thinking of, if this was their idea?
Kind regards
yumcious
February 6, 2009 at 7:52 am
Dear Tengku,
Your comments on the on-going Perak political impasse are words of wisdom and reality. Everyone should ponder why is there such a hurry to form a new state government when there is so much controversy constitutionally before hand. Let truth and justice prevail in such circumstances!
Best wishes and regards.
humbleself
February 6, 2009 at 11:36 am
May the wisdom that is hidden be revealed without measure to those that are prepared to lead.
Albert Howard
February 6, 2009 at 9:44 pm
Finally, someone from UMNO whom I really admired.
Please, enlighten the Sultan of Perak.
Eric-Ong
February 7, 2009 at 12:02 am
The rakyat is not blind to the goings on in Perak. They know the whole thing is a travesty of the highest degree! Any about Tengku being in Umno? Well, somebody has to be the thorn at their sides….
poundsaway
February 7, 2009 at 8:15 am
Dear YAM,
In my humble view, clearly the Sultan of Perak has usurp the powers of the people, the dewan undangan negeri Perak in particular.
As you have rightly pointed out, the fact of who has the majority will have to be established only in the dewan.
The Sultan of Perak has no business whatsoever to interview the so called independent assemblymen to determine the fact of who has the majority.
I have lived in Malaysia for half a century, I believe all parties concerned (including the Sultan of Perak), all know the law and the facts but unfortunately most often only interested in their own vested interest.
At the end of the day what can Nizar offer when compared with Najib?
The Rakyat’s interest is last on their mind!
Good luck Malaysia!!
rajachulan
February 7, 2009 at 1:09 pm
YBM,
H’ever grey it may be, HRH had made the decision as a Perak Sultan. If decisions made by the judge/court cannot be challenged outside the court for it may be construed as contempt of court, Perakians & Malaysians should respect the decision. In the case of court’s judgement however, the system allows for it to be heard at the higher court or court of appeal.
Perhaps, as a Muslim they can also relate this to being obedient to the leader so long as it is not against the islamic teachings. Just like the way that the politicians accept* their president’s final decision when fielding candidates for elections among few good men. (*my own assumption ). p/s Syed aka Sheih feel free to comment.
YBM, for academic discourse however I would be glad if you can refresh us with the scenario in Kelantan in the late 70s. I think what was done then was in a very constitutional manner.
YBM, blog is a medium where we reflect our trueselves. I;m glad that you have finally ventured into this. Great leaders/polticians must be able to adapt if not ahead of the people. I know you have few electronic medium before via your Kuli.com etc. which actually still have that barrier/ distant the way it was organised. It was managed by other administrator to project the image. all the good deeds were highlighted excessively. I’m glad that you had finally close rank in the blogosphere. I’m sure you are circled with good advisors particularly on PR image. The more elitist image projected the more distant it will create.
As one of the ordinary citizen who has been following your thoughts and ideas for many years, wish you all the best. Hope you can also groom new echelon at least with the same quality if not better than yours. That will be the best treasure that you can live behind with your good name. God bless!
appleputih
February 8, 2009 at 9:30 am
sorry you are wrong tengku.
Dr.Sid
February 8, 2009 at 9:57 pm
Dear YM Tengku,
I doubt you would be saying the same thing IF you’re now running for UMNO presidency.
Obviously the Sultan, as a former Lord President, has acted wisely in his interpretation of the state constitution to decide not to hold a snap election.
As someone from the royal family yourself, what are your comments on the act of derhaka by the Pakatan supporters?
It was certainly a sad moment and the worst of its kind in the modern history of Malaysia..
shahnon
February 9, 2009 at 11:59 pm
Syabas & terima kasih Tengku. Tengku berjiwa rakyat!!
Saat ini politik mengawal undang-undang. Bukan undang-undang mengawal politik (politic overule the justice). Amat menyedihkan. Undang-undang NEGARA sudah menjadi undang-undang RIMBA.
Di manakah rakyat nak mengadu? Kerajaan PM? SPR? BPR? HAKIM? POLIS? UMNO? Sama-sama lah kita fikirkan dan perbetulkan….
labu2
February 16, 2009 at 2:57 pm
[...] Sultan Azlan Shah, please take a read of Kuli’s wise words on the rule of law and click here for Zaid Ibrahim’s thoughts on HRH’s decision on allowing BN to take [...]
Kuli - The Voice of Reason « The Potted Plot
February 20, 2009 at 1:44 am
[...] 2 leaders in one state which triggered a constitutional crisis in Perak which hasn’t been resolved at the time of writing. Lots of backroom shenanigans and back hand tactics are being employed. Public opinion of this situation doesn’t really seem to approve of what a certain party did. [...]
Wow ~~~~ « Afternoon nap
March 1, 2009 at 7:36 pm
Dear Tengku
Icertainly agree with what you had written in regard to the proper way of appointing and terminating the service of the MB. But the whole trouble with the UMNO top brass is that they would not admit not accept the norm and they intend I believe to bull-doze their candidate Zamry through unconstitutional means.
The Speaker of Perak State Assembly, I believe, must have read through the constitituion and the standing orders through and through before deciding to suspend the magnificent seven. Thus far, he remains as cool as the cucumber.
Now he has called for the convention of the State Assembly on 3 March to consider two motions:1) to affirm the confidence of Nizar as the MB 2) to resolve to dissolve the Asembly and call for a state election.
How do you read this strategy of PR in Perak?
Your views ae appreciated
billauchris
March 1, 2009 at 9:43 pm