On Valentine’s Day – For the Love of the Sultan

What has Valentine’s Day got to do with politics?

In the Westminster design, the Monarch is the “dignified” part of the political system, while the executive is the “efficient’ part. in non-technical language, the Monarch’s main function is to be loved by all, to be the everyone’s Valientine, if you like.

My views on the Perak Coup

These are my views on the Perak coup and the related issues:

1. Elected representative has every right to change his/her affiliation, but no right to bring the voters’ mandate with him. Political parties should make commitment to repeal Article 48A (6) – and similar clauses in state constitutions – which bars an elected representative to re-contest  in election for five years after resignation. Instead, a clause can be inserted to Article 51 “Resignation of Members” to the effect that a parliamentarian will be deemed as resigning if s/he changes his/her party affliation without the consent of the party on whose ticket s/he had won the seat.

2. A motion of no-confidence must be passed in the legislative assembly to topple a government. If a major government bill is defeated, which implies an effective no-confidence vote, the incumbent government must be allowed to seek a motion of confidence if it so wishes and is considered to have been ousted after losing such vote.  (This is to prevent the defection/partisan act of the speaker who may deny the incumbent government its last chance to prove its viability.)

3. When a motion of no-confidence is passed, the royal consent should not be withheld on the request by the PM/MB/CM to dissolve the Parliament/Assembly. Any exception must be of extraordinary circumstances and well justified. This is to ensure the check-and-balance mechanisms between the Executive and Legislative branches in a parliamentary system – vote of no-confidence and dissolution of the legislature – must not be subverted. An artibrary withholding of the royal consent on this issue effectively renders the Executive powerless before the Legislature.

On Perak, specifically,

1. the swearing-in of the new MB is a coup.

2. the only legitimate government is that headed by Mohd Nizar and supported by others.

3. the best way to solve this crisis is to dissolve assembly dissolution and let the voters decide whom to punish.

My related articles on thenutgraph.com:

Feb 2 – BN will not win from Perak defections

Feb  5 – Snap poll best bet

Feb  6 – Perak must not fail

My second reason for mourning – Markus Ng (1985-2009)

I am completely shocked to learn that you had passed on, Markus. I regret so much that I did not get the news earlier that I missed your funeral and memorial service.

I remember the last time we met in the PJ virgil and the supper we had with two of your juniors. For different reasons, I did not go to the vigil since then. I will go in the future when circumstances permit.

You had been a great person in your brief time on earth. You had touched many hearts and souls with your sincerity and passion to do good.

It is my pleasure to have been your university mate and friend. I remember my surprise to learn that you have come to Essex to study politics, after Cheng Boon. And I learnt later how you had been active in the Essex Malaysian Society. And all these are now history.

As your brother said, you have fought the good fights. We have ours to fight and I shall remember you when I fight mine. I shall remember you next time I sing Negaraku.

I have now another reason to wear black.

Citizen of An Occupied Territory

My home state is now threatened by kleptocracy and betrayal of the highest order.

I am wearing black to mourn and protest, like the Palestinians in Intifada. Please do the same, fellow Perakians and Malaysians.

Viva la RO Perak!