Digest on Malaysian News

Pakatan Rakyat has named a raintree here the Tree of Democracy – for it was under this tree that the emergency sitting of the state assembly was held.

Unlike last Tuesday when the event drew a crowd of hundreds, not many gathered to watch former mentri besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin unveil a marble plaque there yesterday.




To further commemorate the event and the first year anniversary of Pakatan, Nizar, other Pakatan leaders and state assemblymen also planted five trees nearby.

“We have named the trees Transparency, Justice, Integrity, Trustworthiness and Welfare,” he added, expressing hope that the Ipoh City Council would not destroy the trees or remove the plaque.

At a press conference later, Nizar said he would seek an audience with the Sultan of Perak to present to the Ruler the three resolutions passed during the emergency assembly.

He said a letter would be sent to the palace tomorrow, and assured the people of Perak that Pakatan would not give up on the fight.

DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, who was present, called on the national leadership of Barisan Nasional and Pakatan to agree to fresh state elections to end the political stalemate in Perak.

“Umno leaders said they have heard the message. If so, this is what they should do.

“Otherwise, they are unnecessarily plunging the country into a new crisis of confidence which is going to undermine our ability to face the economic crisis,” Lim added.

When contacted about the erection of the marble plaque, state executive councillor Dr Mah Hang Soon said he would check with the city council if permission had been given.

“Most of them (Pakatan leaders) are lawyers and they should know better. It seems they have taken the law into their own hands,” he said.

Meanwhile, in Kuala Lumpur, Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said Nizar had no right to seek consent from the Perak Sultan.

“Based on Article 16(6) of the Perak State Constitution, only the Mentri Besar has the right to appear before the Sultan to seek His Royal Highness’ consent to dissolve the state assembly,” said Zambry in a one-page statement faxed by Bernama on Saturday night.

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