For at least 19 hours, Nizar is still Perak MB

(The Malaysian Insider) KUALA LUMPUR, May 11 – For at least 19 hours, Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin is the legitimate Mentri Besar of Perak.

High Court judge Datuk Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahim today ruled that that the only way to force the MB to resign is through a vote of no-confidence in the state assembly.

He rejected a plea for a stay of execution from lawyers for Datuk Zambry Abdul Kadir, the Barisan Nasional politician who was installed as the chief executive of the state by the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah.

Zambry’s lawyers are expected to make a beeline for the Court of Appeal tomorrow morning to obtain a stay of execution of the High Court ruling – a ruling which has added another chapter to the story of the power grab which began with the defection of three Pakatan Rakyat lawmakers in February.

But till then, Nizar is the MB of Perak.

Tommy Thomas, an expert in constitutional law, told The Malaysian Insider: “Upon the pen being put down by the judge and by the fact there was no stay of execution, Nizar is the MB of Perak.’’

Nizar said today that he will seek an audience with the Sultan to ask that the state assembly be dissolved and for fresh state elections to be called.

The Malaysian Insider has learnt that BN is considering calling an emergency assembly sitting to force Nizar’s resignation through a vote of no-confidence.

BN has a three-seat majority in the assembly.