PERAK CM DISSOLVES STATE ASSEMBLY, SEEKS SULTAN`S CONSENT

IPOH (Malaysia), Feb 4 (Bernama) -- In a drastic and unprecedented move amid
mounting political uncertainty in the state, Chief Minister Mohammad Nizar
Jamaluddin Wednesday announced an immediate dissolution to the State Legislative
Assembly prior to obtaining the consent of the Sultan of Perak.

Speaking at a news conference in his office at 3pm, Mohammad Nizar said, the
state legislative assembly had been dissolved, effective immediately, and that
he would seek an audience with Sultan Azlan Shah for his consent.

He said the state government had no option but to ask for the royal consent
to dissolve the legislative assembly following mounting political uncertainty
after two People's Justice Party (Parti Keadilan Rakyat - PKR) assemblymen
declared that they were now Independent assemblymen.

He said there were also talks that Jelapang assembly member, Hee Yit Foong
of Democratic Action Party (DAP), who is also the deputy state legislative
speaker, would follow suit.

The Democratic Action Party, or DAP is a secular, multi-racial and one of the
component parties of People's Alliance (Pakatan Rakyat).

Behrang assemblyman Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi and his Changkat Jering
counterpart Mohd Osman Jailu announced two days ago that they were quitting PKR
to become Independent assemblymen, while Hee was reported to have submitted a
letter to the DAP that she was quitting the party.

The Perak People's Alliance (Pakatan Rakyat) government, comprising Pas, DAP
and PKR, previously controlled 32 of 59 state seats, with DAP controlling 18,
PKR eight and Pas, six.

With Jamaluddin and Mohd Osman declaring themselves as Independent
assemblymen, and should Hee quit the DAP, Pakatan Rakyat would be left with 29
seats compared to BN's 27 and Independent, three.

Mohammad Nizar's move in announcing the dissolution of the state
legislative assembly without getting the Sultan of Perak's prior consent,
however, was ultra-vires the State Constitution, according to a legal expert in
the state.

A senior state government officer, who declined to be named, said that
the dissolution could only take effect if the Sultan of Perak consented to it.

Mohammad Nizar claimed that the political quagmire in Perak was due to BN's
constant badgering as the coalition could not get over its losses in the last
general election.

Mohammad Nizar, who is also deputy state Pas commissioner, said all the 29
People's Alliance (Pakatan Rakyat) assemblymen agreed to the dissolution of the
state legislative assembly to pave the way for a snap election.

To a question, he acknowledged that the Sultan of Perak had the absolute
power to reject the request for consent.

He also said that he would not be surprise if BN would seek the ruler's
consent to form a new state government.

On Bota assemblyman Nasaruddin Hashim's absence at the news
conference, Mohammad Nizar said, he was told that Nasaruddin had gone to
Putrajaya to meet Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.

Nasaruddin quit Umno to join PKR about a week ago.

Najib later told reporters in Putrajaya that the Perak Pakatan Rakyat
government had collapsed and that the BN had obtained a simple majority to form
the new state government.

He said Jamaluddin, Mohd Osman and Hee had left their respective parties and
had given him the mandate to appoint a new Menteri Besar, while Nasaruddin had
returned to United Malays National Organization (UMNO) Wednesday.

The United Malays National Organisation, or UMNO, is a right-wing party and
Malaysia's largest political party; a founding member of the National Front
(Barisan Nasional) coalition, which has been Malaysia's ruling political party
since independence.

-- BERNAMA