Nothing can be done if the Sultan of Selangor decides to dissolve the state assembly next week as he has the power to do so, says constitutional law expert Abdul Aziz Bari even though it will not be in accordance with Westminster tradition.
“If he decides to dissolve the state assembly on Monday, there’s nothing we can do about it,” he said last night at a forum on the Selangor crisis.
Aziz Bari (left), however, said that the sultan, as the head of state, should look at the practice of other Commonwealth countries which demands that rulers be above politics.
This is important since as there is no strong reason for dissolving the state assembly, he pointed out.
“A situation that allows for a dissolution is a hung parliament. This does not mean he (sultan) can do as he pleases.
“He has to look into the practice of other Commonwealth countries. As the head of state he has to be above politics,” said Aziz Bari
Path to the crisis
The Selangor crisis exploded after Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim was expelled by his party (PKR) on Aug 9 for refusing to give way to PKR president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to replace him.
The sultan on the other hand is expected to arrive today and will be meeting Khalid next week to discuss the crisis.
Malaysiakini previously reported that Khalid is expected to suggest to the sultan that the state be dissolved as one of the ways to resolve the crisis.
As such, Aziz Bari believes that the sultan should have given the final word to Khalid on Aug 11 after his expulsion from the party which he added sparked off what is happening now.
“If everything is done according to the law, everything would be much simpler,” he said.
Former bar council president Ambiga Sreenevasan (right) who acted as the moderator at last night’s forum, meanwhile, said that she did not agree to the assembly being dissolved since the difference between the crisis in Selangor and Perak is in terms of the majority.
She said.“In Perak, the people voted for a Pakatan (Rakyat) government and the next day they got a Barisan (Nasional) government.
“In Selangor it is different. There is no change as Pakatan still holds the majority. This is why I supported the dissolution then (in Perak).”
Meanwhile, Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah suggested that Pakatan form a caucus to implement the coalition’s policies to help the Selangor administration directly.
“The caucus will help avoid such problems from happening in Selangor,” she said.
“If he decides to dissolve the state assembly on Monday, there’s nothing we can do about it,” he said last night at a forum on the Selangor crisis.
Aziz Bari (left), however, said that the sultan, as the head of state, should look at the practice of other Commonwealth countries which demands that rulers be above politics.This is important since as there is no strong reason for dissolving the state assembly, he pointed out.
“A situation that allows for a dissolution is a hung parliament. This does not mean he (sultan) can do as he pleases.
“He has to look into the practice of other Commonwealth countries. As the head of state he has to be above politics,” said Aziz Bari
Path to the crisis
The Selangor crisis exploded after Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim was expelled by his party (PKR) on Aug 9 for refusing to give way to PKR president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to replace him.
The sultan on the other hand is expected to arrive today and will be meeting Khalid next week to discuss the crisis.
Malaysiakini previously reported that Khalid is expected to suggest to the sultan that the state be dissolved as one of the ways to resolve the crisis.
As such, Aziz Bari believes that the sultan should have given the final word to Khalid on Aug 11 after his expulsion from the party which he added sparked off what is happening now.
“If everything is done according to the law, everything would be much simpler,” he said.
Former bar council president Ambiga Sreenevasan (right) who acted as the moderator at last night’s forum, meanwhile, said that she did not agree to the assembly being dissolved since the difference between the crisis in Selangor and Perak is in terms of the majority.She said.“In Perak, the people voted for a Pakatan (Rakyat) government and the next day they got a Barisan (Nasional) government.
“In Selangor it is different. There is no change as Pakatan still holds the majority. This is why I supported the dissolution then (in Perak).”
Meanwhile, Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah suggested that Pakatan form a caucus to implement the coalition’s policies to help the Selangor administration directly.
“The caucus will help avoid such problems from happening in Selangor,” she said.
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