The situation in Perak today once again raises many Constitutional issues.
There are some overriding principles that operate in such situations. One is the doctrine of separation of powers, which means that the Judiciary cannot interfere in the workings (proceedings) of Parliament or the State Legislative Assemblies (Article 72 of the Federal Constitution), as they have the privilege of regulating their own internal affairs and procedure.
The doctrine of separation of powers also means that there should be no Executive influence in the workings of Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies. We say this as it has been reported that there are attempts to lodge police reports against the Speaker of the Perak State Assembly, which would violate these provisions.
The other principle is that the Speaker has wide powers, which in this case will be set out in the relevant Standing Orders.
Apart from these overarching principles, one will have to study the Perak Constitution and Standing Orders to resolve if the correct procedure was followed in the recent suspension of Datuk Dr Zambry Abd Kadir and his six executive council members.
One legal view is that the Speaker and the Committee of Special Privileges have the powers that they have exercised; another is that the matter referred to the Committee of Special Privileges must be placed before the State Assembly before it can take effect.
Regardless of whether the correct procedure was followed by the Speaker and the Committee of Special Privileges, under Article 72 of the Federal Constitution their conduct and the validity of their proceedings may nevertheless be outside the jurisdiction of the courts.
While we wrestle with these constitutional and legal issues, there is a reality on the ground that we must face. The legal actions are not the first and are unlikely to be the last. This is not desirable and does not provide an effective and definitive solution. Going back to the people of Perak will. We urge the parties involved to seriously consider doing so, not only in the interest of the people of Perak but also in the interest of stability and the nation as a whole.
May everyone be 'beautiful' and sound. written by Tan Peek Guat,
Friday, February 20 2009 04:42 am
Oh, what a profound thought that brings us to the ground; That all which had been lost may soon be found!
The people had searched and they had found; Let none remove from them without compound !
Give to the people what they had found; Then, everyone would have their own grounds!
Oh, grounds without compound; How beautiful when made sound!
Tan Peek Guat
keliru,celaru dan kelam kabut. written by Mohd Azizan Bin Mat Nayan,
Friday, February 20 2009 03:45 pm
Soalan 1) Kenapa ketika 2 adun PKR dikatakan meletakkan jawatan suatu ketika dulu, kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat tidak berhasrat untuk mengadakan piliharaya semula seluruh dun Perak?
Soalan 2) Adakah kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat ada terlebih dahulu membincangkan isu perletakan jawatan 2 adun, sebelum speaker DAP mengumumkan perletakan jawatan oleh 2 adun tersebut?
Kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat perlu menunjukkan bahawa adun-adun dan exco-exco dalam kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat boleh berpakat dalam membuat sebarang keputusan terutama dalam isu yang amat penting seperti isu perletakkan 2 adun PKR itu dulu.
Saya sehingga sekarang masih percaya bahawa kemelut politik Perak sekarang adalah berpunca daripada kegagalan Kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat menangani dengan bijak isu perletakan 2 adun PKR.
Nampaknya, keadaan sekarang sudah menjadi medan perang politik untuk menunjukkan kuasa yang ada dan menggunakan kuasa yang ada. Soal samada sesuatu keputusan itu sah atau tidak dari segi undang-undang, itu merupakan soal yang kedua.
Bak kata pepatah....Binatang besar yang bertarung, binatang yang kecil mati dulu terpijak.Biar kami di atas berlawan dulu, soal kebajikan rakyat nombor 2.Kami hanya perlukan undi rakyat hanya masa pilihanraya sahaja.
Keliru dengan komen written by Zulkepli Bin Omar,
Friday, February 20 2009 11:26 pm
Saya keliru dan tak faham dengan komen Mohd Azizan yang menyatakan tindakan Pakatan Rakyat mengendalikan isu perletakan jawatan 2 adun.
Apa yang saya ingat 2 adun ini sebelum letak jawatan telah hilangkan diri dan cakap-cakap mengapa mereka hilang diri itu tak payah diulang-ulang. Budak sekolah darjah enam pun tahu.
Dari jawatan Exco dengan segala kemudahan kereta, supir, minyak percuma dll. mengapa mereka letak jawatan? Ini budak darjah tiga pun tahu. Jadi bila agaknya ada kesempatan untuk berbuat sesuatu kerana 2 adun dalam tempoh halimunan sentiasa kata setia kepada parti mereka. Tiba-tiba mereka dah ada di Putra Jaya.
Yang ini budak sekolah darjah satu pun tau jawapannya.
Zulkepli Omar
Write comment
You must be logged in to a comment. Please register if you do not have an account yet.
2012 Bar Council Subscription Click the link above to download Circular 072/2012 pertaining to the 2012 Bar Council subscription, including the payment guide and a set of Frequently-Asked-Questions.
2012 Hotel Corporate Rates Attending seminars? Going for a holiday? Click on the link above to check out the list of hotel corporate rates for Members of the Bar, which is updated regularly.
Bar Council Bookshop Read MORE … but pay LE$$! Members enjoy a 20% discount on LexisNexis publications at the Bar Council Bookshop. Click on the link above for the list of available titles.
International Malaysia Law Conference (26 to 28 Sept 2012) Hurry up! The countdown continues and the current promotion rate ends 30 June 2012. Don't miss what is going to be the best conference in the region! On top of that, if you sign up with 5 or more people from the same organisation, we will give you a 10% group discount. Click on the link above to register.
Talk on Summary Judgement (25 May 2012) Organised by the Selangor Bar Committee, this talk will take place at 5:00 pm, at the Selangor Bar Committee Auditorium, on 25 May 2012 (Friday). The talk will be conducted by Ramesh Supramanian. Click on the link above for more details.
Seminar on Tax Issues in Financial Transactions (25 May 2012) Organised by the Kuala Lumpur Bar Professional Development Committee, this seminar, featuring S Saravana Kumar, will take place at 3:00 pm, at the Kuala Lumpur Bar Auditorium, on 25 May 2012 (Friday). Click on the link above for more details.
Dialogue with Criminal Law Practitioners (26 May 2012) Organised by Bar Council, this dialogue will take place at 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, at the Raja Aziz Addruse Auditorium, Bar Council, on 26 May 2012 (Saturday). Click on the link above for more details.
Conference on Competition Law (31 May 2012) Organised by Bar Council with the support of LexisNexis, this conference will take place at 8:30 am to 4:00 pm, at Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel, on 31 May 2012 (Thursday). For more details or to register, please contact Vilashini Vijayan (03-2050 2095; vila@malaysianbar.org.my). Click on the link above for more details.
Talk on What Clients Want (7 June 2012) Organised by the KL Bar Practitioners' Affairs Committee, the talk, presented by Ong Eu Jin, will take place at 5:00 pm, at the KL Bar Auditorium, on 7 June 2012 (Thursday). Click on the link above for more details.
4th LAWASIA Family Law Conference, Penang (13 and 14 July 2012) Supported by Penang Bar Committee and the Malaysian Bar, this conference, themed “The New Global Family: Emerging Trends and Challenges to Family Practice”, will take place at Traders Hotel, Penang, on 13 and 14 July 2012 (Friday and Saturday). Click on the link above for more details.
News 
The situation in Perak today once again raises many Constitutional issues.
Subscribe to this comment's feed
Circular No 109/2012: Be a Part of the Bar Council Constitutional Law Committee
Oh, what a profound thought that brings us to the ground;
That all which had been lost may soon be found!
The people had searched and they had found;
Let none remove from them without compound !
Give to the people what they had found;
Then, everyone would have their own grounds!
Oh, grounds without compound;
How beautiful when made sound!
Tan Peek Guat