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For the past few days, I have been busy with my children's annual school sports day. Being the chairman of the PTA, we the EXCO members has been trying very hard to ensure that the games being a memorable one.
So much so, I have loss touch with the happening in the local political scene as I had very little time to read the papers or listen to the media. I had been under the impression that the government that has been appointed has gone back to work and life is about to go on as usual. I was taken aback when I read an article on Malaysiakini under the heading “ T'ganu MB: Palace appoints Ahmad Said, boycott looms” last night. This morning I saw another article that seems have put a greater wedge on the governance of the people when Malaysiakini reported that “MB crisis deepens in Terengganu” where it was said that the Kijal State Assemblyman has been sacked from UMNO. Somehow another, I thought that Idris Jusoh has been appointed by the Regency Advisory Council and all the state government has been formed. Hmmm, I missed something… this is what happen when news are not reported on the primetime news. Well, maybe the editor felt the story is not a very interesting news that worth the prime-time exposure! Doh! The fact of the case is clear i.e. the Palace (i.e. Sultan Mizan) does not want Idris Jusoh. What is not clear is the reason why? It is also not clear on whether there is any breach of law by both the palace officials and the government. I also wonders whether Hadi Awang, the PAS President is involved in anyway, knowing the close relationship between the Sultan Mizan (DYMM) and himself which goes back a long way. Why there is a problem? It is quite certain that the actual reason is only known to the DYMM, the caretaker MB Idris and maybe some top UMNO officials and PM. My research on the internet seems to point to a lot of rumours and no concrete fact. SMS has been spreading around that the DYMM is angry because Idris failed to give his brother some business. Another rumour is that, the DYMM was upset because his brother was dropped as a candidate in the recent GE. It was reported in Malaysia Today that the sultan disapproves of Idris because he feels that Idris did not show enough respect to the royal household during his first term as MB.A new rumour is now spreading saying that DYMM was upset because Idris did not respect HIM in the religious capacity as the Head of State. There is also a rumour that DYMM was actually acting on Instruction of fellow Sultans in other State to put pressure on UMNO whom they felt has been side-lining the power of the Royal Household over the years. What ever it is, the actual reason will never be known as no one has come forward to give the official reason why? In light of this, both the Federal Government (or the PM) and the Regency Advisory Council must issue official statement to the matter. Rumours is unhealthy to all parties concern as well as the people in the state. It also reflects badly in the international scene. What happened to the Law! This is what exactly happen when, we seems to put the law in the second place compared to personality. In the case of Terengganu, the AG (Ghani Patail – who seems to be very careful of late) has made it very clear that under Item 34 (1) of the Federal Constitution, the King cannot perform as the Sultan of Terengganu except in the capacity of the State Head of Islam. As such the King has no power in determining who should become the MB. I am not sure about the state laws of Terengganu with regards to the appointment of the MB. I have been searching the internet but failed to find anything. Based on the assumption that the State laws are the same, then the argument in Perak, Selangor and Perlis where it says that the Sultan must appoint the candidate that is most popular among the state assemblyman. The MB then will appoint the state cabinet. The power of the Sultan and the King is well define and it cannot interfere in the matters related to the state administration. Why is that everyone seems to have some difficulty in understanding the law. The law in this matte is very clear. The problem seems to be lies to the different interpretation by different people in the different state. The interpretation seems to be made to suit the situation. If this continues, it will disrupt the governance of the people. The Impact While everyone is dwelling on the political impact, I choose to analyse from the point of the state and the people. After 2 weeks of the GE, the state government has yet to be formed. The efficiency of running the government is affected. Election was done to elect representative to serve the people. People decide who they want to govern them. The people decide on the mode of governance. If this continues then governing is interrupted and matters of the state is not being managed properly. It is also unclear why the PM and his DPM has chose to be silent in these matter. They need to solve this impasse without going against the law. Now all the 22 State assemblyman has signed a letter and had openly state in the media, that they want Idris, then it would even make it very difficult for anyone to make a u turn and go towards a compromise that will not go against the laws. This is the problem in Malaysia. The law is always treated as a second class matter compared to personality… Maybe the state government of Perak, Perlis, Terengganu and Selangor need to revisit their laws and look on how to make it clearer for all people in the future and prevent the recurrence of such problems Dr Mohamed Rafick Khan bin Abdul Rahman MD MMed (OM) MBA (IT) Dip Ae Med CTM AME (17) www.rights2write.wordpress.com
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