“No elections but constitutional amendments.”

When quizzed what more could be expected, the journo replied: “The constitutional amendments will include direct elections within the party.”

More power to individual PKR party members, and definitely a major hurdle for those wishing to practise money politics (read bribery).

The other major event taking place soon is PAS’ annual muktamar, happening June 3-5 if I’m not mistaken. Will we see a change of guards, or entrenchment of the oldies??

Yesterday, after the first police raid on the DAP Headquarters in its 43-year existence, we see that some kind of darkness has perhaps really overcome the Najib administration. According to Lim, “The police raided the DAP Hqrs without a search warrant.” Is this correct in the eyes of the law? Or is the law to be left out of this? Why the haste? (And a different form of the same question – How come so fast? -  can be leveled at the prompt turn-around in the Court of Appeals, vis-a-vis Zambry vs Nizar.)

What precedents has yesterday evening’s raid set? An explanation, surely, is in order. How should the Malaysian people feel for the police now, without a clarification/explanation for its actions?

Which people, Tan Sri?

limkitsiang judge declares nizar lawful mb.

Check out reports here, and here.

What will Nizar do now? (4:30pm update: According to a twitter entry by edgemy & TheNutGraph, Nizar is on his way to Ipoh to see the Sultan to call for fresh elections.)

4.35pm update: “However, BN can still retain control of the state if it convenes an emergency state assembly meeting and move a no-confidence motion against Mohammad Nizar.” via Malaysiakini.

Some reactions:

• “im calling Perak thing bluff.. BN needed an escape route, the courts are it. BN probably realised – lose the state now or nation in 3 years.” – a friend, via twitter
• “Conspiracy Theory #375: The courts rule in favour of Nizar to maintain the appearance of judicial impartiality. The palace asks him to take it to the house. The house moves for a vote of no confidence. BN outnumber PR.” – another friend, also via twitter
• it appears that BN might still punch some holes in PR’s bucket of fun. R Ganesan could call an emergency sitting and call for a vote of no confidence against Nizar. The public relations fall-out from this would be even worse, one might suspect…
  

myFuture Foundation website

myFuture Foundation is this new foundation set up by Datuk Zaid Ibrahim to promote a sense of nationhood among young Malaysians.

Interesting that the logo says .myFuture Foundation rather than just myFuture Foundation

They’ve got some interesting programs happening in the coming months, featuring Malaysian filmmakers Amir Muhd & Saw Teong Hin. Check it out.

In commemoration of the 40th anniversary of May-13 incident, there will be a public forum entitled “From May 13 to 1Malaysia – The Future of Malaysian Nation Building”.

Date:  13th May 2009 (Wednesday), 8.00pm
Venue:  Civic Hall, MBPJ, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

Bearing in mind the nation’s difficult past, the objective of this forum is to enable a group of Malaysians from different background and of different era to explore together a Malaysian future that will become our common destiny.

Speakers include:

• Lim Kit Siang (DAP MP for Ipoh Timur),
• Nizar Jamaluddin (PAS MP for Bukit Gantang),
• Khalid Abd. Samad (PAS MP for Shah Alam),
• K. Ragunath (Chairman of Malaysian Bar Council),
• Chan Nyan Hoi (Retired Judge of Court Of Appeal),
• Dr Azmi bin Sharom (Associate Professor of UM Faculty of Law)
• Tricia Yeoh Su-Wern (Research Analyst)

Light refreshment will be prepared. All are welcomed to attend this forum. This forum is organised by the office of Lau Weng San, state assemblyman for Kg Tunku, Selangor.

There is no such doctrine of automatic dissolution. It must be an overt act of the sovereign signing the proclamation of dissolution. – Tommy Thomas

According to this article, the 7th May sitting of the Perak state assembly was technically unnecessary. Tommy argues that there are effectively only two ways that an assembly can be dissolved:

1. Upon a request made by the head of the government or a state to the prime minister or sultan;
2. When Parliament or a legislative assembly reaches the end of a five-year term when general elections must be held.

If this was unnecessary, why would BN still push for it? Could they have been mislead by their team of lawyers (who, according to a source present in the assembly on 7th May, were quite arrogant and had told her if she didn’t like the way things were going, she “should just migrate to another country.” WTF?! Patutlah jadi lawyer diorang…)? Or, was there something to prove by doing this?

In any case, it now appears that should snap elections be held in Perak, BN would have the hardest of chances to regain any semblance of a footing in the Silver state.

Or, is that part of a/the plan?

…

Although, based on how the House imbroglio has been handled (calling the executive into the legislature’s domain?! WTF?!), it appears to be little coherence to the planning. Hmm.

In conjunction with the ISA releases, here’s a brief list of what and who I feel were made heroes by the (oftentimes) heavy-handed action of BN/Umno:

1. “Makkal Shakti!” – became the rallying cry that bridge ethnic groups, thanks to the outlawing of Hindraf and the ISA arrests of its top leadership; I have never witnessed a Malaysian General Elections like the March 8th 12GE, where people talked about how people from all ethnic groups cried out Makkal Shakti, flew Pas flags, and wore PKR/DAP hats without fear.
2. BERSIH – the continued perceived association/collaboration of Elections Commission-BN resulted in a tidalwave of yellow at the end of 2007, which made it very ok to vote another way.
3. A.B.U. – Anything But Umno/Asalkan Bukan Umno – Dr M’s animosity towards Pak Lah also helped many more Malaysians to turn the tide away from BN, and this term, ABU, was seen in graffiti throughout KL, a reminder that initially many were voting simply to oppose Umno.
4. Nizar Jamaluddin – from an unknown entity who was the most qualified ADUN to lead the Dewan to one of the most celebrated national personalities, no one helped boost Nizar’s popularity more than Zambry Abd Kadir, the BN/Umno ‘replacement’ MP. Nizar’s recent win (with an increase in majority) in Bukit Gantang proved that BN’s popularity was somewhat waning, although analysis of where and how Nizar won (mainly still in urban areas, and the non-Malay vote went up to nearly 80% in some locations) is a cause for concern for PR.
5. Speaker Sivakumar – His defiance towards BN/Umno Perak post-coup d’etat, and his adamance on May 7th to never budge from his seat until he was dragged out by all those Special Branch officers, has in more than one way cemented the view that BN has brutally steamrolled its way over the hearts and minds of the Perak rakyat.
6. Uthayakumar – not willing to sign a release form under the ISA (one of the conditions were that he’d never step into Seremban, his hometown, again), he was released yesterday and was embraced by his supporters like a messiah risen.

The danger with heroes is that they’re only heroes until they do nothing good heh! So, to all the above, with the popularity advantage, time to make hay while the sun shines!

After yesterday’s unseeming manner in which Speaker Sivakumar was forcibly ejected from the House, I wonder how many people would vote BN if Perak state assembly was immediately dissolved? …

via TMI, the 10 are:

1. Zulkepli Marzuki

2. Jeknal Adil

3. Azmi Pindatun

4. P Uthayakumar

5. M Manoharan

6. T Vasanthakumar

7. Zainun Rasyhid

8. Aboud Ghafar Ismail

9. Sufian Salih

10. Hasim Talib

11. Abdul Jamal Azahari

12. Yusof Mohd Salam

13.Husin Alih

4.25pm: BN-elected speaker Ganesan adjourns sitting sine die, to a date to be fixed. (TMI)

4.15pm: After much too much moving around, I’m finally back at the computer. In that time, a Speaker was forcibly ejected by the Special Branch (what were they doing inside the august House? Isn’t it illegal?), the Perak Raja Muda gave his royal address, and it’s not certain if the democratic debacle will continue today…

12.50pm: Umno Youth’s Saiful Adli files a police report against Sivakumar for ordering Zambry and others out of the House. He says this is in contempt of court. (Mkini) — How is this contempt of court, Saiful?

I forgot that Ganesan isn’t even an elected state representative!!

12.35pm: “The Pakatan Aduns are asking Ganesan to leave. They say he is not authorised to be a Speaker and point to his name tag which says only “pegawai”. A short scuffle breaks out briefly but it is over now.” (Anilnetto)

12.20pm: It’s a game of Speaker vs Speaker, with Ganesan (seated at the Bentara or sergeant-at-arms table) being asked to leave the Dewan by Sivakumar! (Mkini)

11.45am: “Even with the one-hour recess, Siva has not left his seat! The Pakatan Aduns too are mostly still in the Dewan tho some of the BN Aduns have left. Hee is still around too. Sounds like musical chairs.” (Anilnetto)

11.16am: 1 hour recess! Relax time??

11.10am: “Doors leading to the Dewan proper are locked. Outsiders cannot enter.” (Anilnetto)

11am: R Ganesan has taken his oath and put on his robes, but Siva is still in the Speaker’s seat! (Anilnetto)

10.50am: Hee Yit Foong moves a motion to install R Ganesan as Speaker. Sivakumar still rooted in his chair. (Anilnetto)

10.45am: Deputy speaker Hee Yit Foong, who quit DAP, tries to take over Speaker’s role by holding proceedings in one corner of hall. (TMI)

10.30am: “Saya minta Bentara untuk keluarkan 10 orang ini,” says Sivakumar, referring to the ten BN assemblypersons he has barred from entering the House. Bentara is the House’s sargeant-at-arms. (TNG)

10.20am: Parit Buntar MP Mujahid Rawa arrested in Ipoh! (TMI)

Inside the House, Zambry’s motion to remove the speaker has been quashed, because Sivakumar says “Zambry has been suspended”. (TNG)

10.15am: Sg Siput MP Dr Michael Jeyakumar has been arrested (TMI).

10.10am: Inside the Perak state assembly, all news agencies reporting that Speaker Sivakumar won’t start sitting until Zambry + 6 others + 3 independents leave the Dewan.

10am: Kubang Kerian MP Salahuddin Ayub has been arrested. Total official count: 28.

930am: Scores more arrested.

9am: So far this morning, a total of 12 people have been arrested, including Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin, Teratai state rep Jenice Lee, Ayer Keroh state rep Khoo Poay Tiong, and Bahau state rep Tey Kok Seong. A black start to the day.

For latest updates, check here and here. Also here.