PRESS STATEMENT
THE PERAK INCIDENT
THE PERAK INCIDENT
The Perak incident was raised and discussed at SUHAKAM monthly meeting on 11th May 2009.
It appears to us that during the incident that occurred in the Perak State Legislative Assembly on 7th May 2009, the police and the civil service acted in concert with the government that has assumed power in controversial circumstances, showing complete disregard for human rights. Governments may change but those who serve in the police and administration must remain loyal to the wider interest and respect human rights rather than the narrow interest of individuals who form the government of the day.
When the elected members of the Assembly met and challenged each other in the august House, the police were busily engaged in “maintaining public order”. Outside, passive demonstrators dressed in black to mourn the violation of their rights to assemble peacefully, were particularly provoked and manhandled. The Dewan proceeded even while the court was still to decide on the following Monday, four days later, who was the legitimate Menteri Besar. The pre-emptive proceedings, the motion to sack the legitimate Speaker and his removal from the House and the action of the police force have caused much concern to the people at large. It somewhat makes us wonder whether service to the people is subordinate to service to political interests. The decision of the Court declaring Dato’ Seri Mohammed Nizar Jamaluddin as the rightful Menteri Besar of Perak has further complicated matters.
Malaysia is a democratic country based on human rights and the rule of law. The political disturbances in Perak and what transpired in the Dewan on 7th May would no doubt pose a dark shadow over our efforts to promote democracy and human rights in Malaysia.
Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948 provides that the will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of the government. Judging from the events following the appointment of Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir as Menteri Besar, the incident in the Perak Assembly sitting on 7th May and the decision of the Court declaring Dato’ Seri Mohammed Nizar as the rightful Menteri Besar, it is very unlikely that the Perak issue will be resolved unless power is given back to the people. Courts action will not necessarily resolve the political situation in Perak. As Dewan Negara President Tan Sri Dr. Abdul Hamid Pawanchik said, “the political situation in Perak has reached a stage that required the people to choose again.”
Perhaps the time has come for the people of Perak to be given the opportunity to exercise their right to choose again the Government of their choice, which is a basic human right. Only a stable government will be able to ensure the right to peace and development.
Two of the greatest gifts endowed by God to His creatures are the sense of sight and hearing. Without these there is no learning and progress. It is very encouraging that the Government under the leadership of YAB Dato’ Sri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak is prepared to listen to dissenting views. Hopefully the Government will also tolerate and appreciate peaceful public demonstration against unpopular policies and actions.
Human rights transcend race, status and political ranks. No person has more rights than the next one. Muslims are aware of this fundamental rights as espoused by Prophet Muhammad in his last sermon –
…All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action……
This, perhaps, will be a good basis for “1 Malaysia”.
end -
“HUMAN RIGHTS FOR ALL”
TAN SRI ABU TALIB OTHMAN
Chairman
Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM)
12 May 2009
(Buletin Online) - Pemimpin komponen Barisan Nasional (BN) yang juga Jawatankuasa Pusat Parti Gerakan, Dr Hsu Dar Ren (gambar bawah kanan) menggesa BN bersama-sama Pakatan Rakyat (PR) mengakhiri kemelut politik negeri Perak dengan membubarkan Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN).
Beliau berkata sudah terlalu banyak kerosakan yang terpaksa ditanggung oleh rakyat dan pilihanraya negeri sahaja yang dapat menyelesaikannya.
“Ia bukan lagi perkara siapa yang benar atau siapa yang salah, keputusan siapa yang berhak menubuhkan kerajaan seharusnya tidak lagi dibuat di mahkamah, tetapi lebih baik diputuskan oleh rakayat Perak sendiri, balik kepada prinsip asas demokrasi,”katanya dalam satu kenyataan kepada pihak media.
Kenyataan Dr Hsu Dar Ren tersebut disokong oleh Gerakan Muda Parti Gerakan negeri Selangor.
Veteran UMNO, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah berkata pembubaran "satu-satunya cara" keluar daripada krisis yang melanda negeri Perak.
"Kita berharap Sultan memperkenan untuk membubarkan DUN. Ia bukan sahaja tindakan sewajarnya, tetapi satu-satunya cara keluar daripada krisis yang membelit Perak, merosakkan keluhuran undang-undang, mencalarkan badan kehakiman, polis dan perkhidmatan awam negeri, dan mencemarkan sistem beraja di mata umum," kata Ahli Parlimen Gua Musang itu dalam blognya.
Tengku Razaleigh juga pernah mempertikaikan tindakan rampasan kuasa BN, termasuk menggugurkan jawatan Mohammad Nizar, dengan menyifatkannya di luar proses perlembagaan.
Pengerusi Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia (Suhakam)Tan Sri Abu Talib Osman juga menggesa pembubaran DUN dan seterusnya pilihanraya untuk menyelesaikan kemelut politik Perak.
"Mungkin sudah tiba masanya untuk rakyat di Perak diberikan peluang untuk menggunakan hak mereka sekali lagi untuk memilih kerajaan pilihannya, iaitu hak asasi manusia," kata Abu Talib.
Beliau yang juga bekas Peguam Negara berkata "Tindakan mahkamah tidak semestinya menyelesaikan keadaan politik di Perak."
Menteri Besar Perak yang sah sebagaimana diisytiharkan Mahkamah Tinggi kelmarin, Dato’ Seri Nizar Jamaludin berkata, beliau ingin mencari penyelesaian muktamad menerusi mandat rakyat.
Tegas beliau, krisis politik negeri ini tidak boleh diselesaikan dengan menggunakan mahkamah semata-mata.
Hanya Zambry dan kerajaan UMNO/BN Pusat sahaja yang tidak mahu DUN Perak di bubarkan.
PULAU PINANG [4.30 pm] - Gerakan Pulau Pinang hari ini mendesak Menteri Besar BN Perak, Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir supaya segera memohon pembubaran Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) bagi membuka jalan mengadakan pilihan raya negeri.
Pengerusinya, Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan, berkata langkah membubarkan DUN akan membolehkan rakyat Perak memutuskan parti mana yang sepatutnya memimpin urusan pentadbiran negeri itu.
"Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, berkata semalam bahawa ia terpulang kepada Zambry untuk memutuskan tindakan susulan berikutan kemelut politik yang berlarutan di negeri itu. Saya kuat mengatakan rakyat Perak perlu mempunyai kata putus dalam hal ini kerana setiap kerajaan memerlukan kesahihan dan keraguan hanya boleh diselesaikan menerusi pilihan raya semula," katanya dalam kenyataan di sini, hari ini.
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