Nizar’s appeal to be heard today

(NST) PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal today will hear an application by Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin to set aside a stay of execution order granted to Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir on who is the rightful Perak menteri besar.

Nizar's lawyer, Leong Cheok Keng, said Court of Appeal judge Datuk Ramly Ali had granted the stay pending the disposal of his appeal.

"The stay was not given pending the hearing of his (Zambry's) appeal," he said, adding that they did not know how long the appellate court would take to deliver judgment.

Leong said they would request the court hear Nizar's application first before hearing the appeal.

The High Court on May 11 had declared Nizar the menteri besar on grounds that a vote of no-confidence had not been taken in the assembly to remove him.

The following day, Zambry filed an appeal against the High Court decision and obtained a stay of the ruling from Ramly who sat as a single judge.

Leong said Nizar's legal team did not receive any reply on their application for a five-man bench to hear the appeal.

"Until 4.30pm (yesterday), we have not heard whether the application was granted."

Nizar wants an extended panel to hear the appeal as the matter was of public interest and touched on key constitutional issues.