Better to resolve Perak crisis through talks, says law expert

(Bernama) SHAH ALAM – Universiti Teknologi Mara law lecturer Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi has suggested that Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders and those of the former Opposition government in Perak hold talks to quickly resolve the political crisis in the state.

He said trying the settle disputes arising as a result of the crisis through the courts would involve a long and drawn out process as there would be appeals and counter appeals.

He said this on the "Hujah" talk show which was broadcast by the TV9 televsion channel from here last night.

Joining him on the programme, which was chaired by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's History, Politics and Strategic Studies Centre senior lecturer Dr Mohammad Agus Yusoff, were prominent lawyer Datuk Mohd Shafee Abdullah and Bar Council president, Ragunath Kesavan.

One way of resolving the crisis, Dr Shad said, was for the two conflicting parties to take turns to rule the state.

Mohd Shafee was of the opinion that the courts should expedite hearings involving the crisis while Ragunath felt that it was better for a fresh election to be called in Perak.

The crisis erupted early February when the Pas-DAP-PKR pact lost their majority in the state assembly to the Barisan Nasional. The pact's attempt to have the assembly dissolved for a fresh election to be called also failed.

Following this, the pact's menteri besar Datuk  Seri Mohamad Nizar Jamaluddin resorted to the courts to declare he was the rightful menteri besar of Perak and not the BN's Datuk Zambri Abdul Kadir, who was appointed by the Sultan of Perak to replace him.