There’s a stink all over and it’s coming from Putrajaya!
By Gavin Khoo, Suara Keadilan
After the Perak verdict, it just stinks! Clearly, it has created more doubt than certainty. Now, the judges cannot even agree on the interpretation of the constitutional language. This judgement is set to put the federal constitution on a serious trial.
It was ruled that the Sultan (monarch) has the authority to hire and fire a chief minister. But Malaysia is a constitutional democracy. A chief minister should only be answerable to the state assembly.
His leadership should be decided by elected members of the legislation. Even if the law does not specify a method on how a chief minister can be removed, it does not mean that the best possible method is through the arbitrary decision of a monarch.
I think we are done trying to explain and argue about our constitutional rights. The only option left is to reclaim our democratic rights. If a regime entrusted with the power to rule for five years cannot deliver this responsibility fairly, it is up to us to stand up for our democracy and our rights.
I agree with Dr Mahathir that we should not go back to the feudal way. We should put the right people at the right places. People whom we expected to help defend and protect our constitutional rights cannot be allowed to abuse this responsibility to pervert the law the way they feel fit.
Each and every institution must have a check-and-balance system to ensure that there is no abuse of authority or power.
In this case, our institutions and government have failed us. The only option left is to exercise our rights at the ballot boxes.
It is a shame to know that while most countries are moving forward, we are doing exactly the opposite and still hoping to become a developed nation by 2020.
We must stand up to fight till the end. Our collective will will prevail if we can work as a nation to reject the old Malaysia and replace it with one which promises us a better future.
Act now! I want to hear from you what we can do together.
[Gavin Khoo Kay Peng is an economics graduate from the University of Malaya and also has a master's degree in International Relations from University of Warwick, UK. He is now a corporate consultant and an independent political analyst]
