816 opposition village heads lose suit vs Perak govt
(Bernama) – The High Court here today dismissed with costs the suit brought by 816 village heads against the Perak government over their dismissals.
Judicial Commissioner Ridwan Ibrahim ruled that village heads were not civil servants and their appointments were administrative in nature and not contractual.
He said the village heads had been informed by Deputy State Secretary (Administration) Datuk Mohd Jamal Mahusin in a briefing that they were appointed according to the current political trend and they were fully aware of this.
The factor of loyalty to the state government of the day was also taken into consideration, he said.
He said the court also found that the press statement by Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir in February that their services would not be terminated did not help their case as the statement was not a pledge.
Ridwan said the district officer had discharged his duty by handing over the termination notices to the village heads.
Although former menteri besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin had given them letters of appointment for a two-year term from Aug 1 last year to July 31 2010, this was conditional as explained in the briefing by Mohd Jamal, he said.
On May 26, the village head of Sungai Ati, Padang Rengas, Mohd Ridzuan Asit, on behalf of himself and 815 other village heads, filed a suit against the Barisan Nasional state government seeking punitive, aggravated and exemplary damages for dismissing them and an order requiring Zambry to reinstate them.
They also sought a declaration that their dismissal or the termination of their services as village heads was null and void.
They were represented by counsel Yunos Ali, Chan Kok Keong and C K Leong while the state government was represented by state legal advisor Datuk Ahmad Kamal Shahid, assisted by Zulqarnain Hassan.
Mohd Ridzuan, who is also chairman of the opposition front village head action committee, told reporters later that they would appeal the decision.
