Action is treason, says Zahid

(Emedia News) – Perak Speaker V. Sivakumar's decision to suspend the menteri besar and the six executive council members is an act of treason against Sultan of Perak Sultan Azlan Shah, said state Barisan Nasional deputy chief Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

"He has defied the sultan's orders… the sultan has the absolute power to appoint and sack the menteri besar, apart from appointing the new executive councillors.

"So if the exco members and the new MB are not allowed into the state assembly, Sivakumar has commited derhaka against the sultan for disobeying his command and his authority."

Zahid warned other politicians not to court trouble with the palace.

"We in Perak, especially the Malays, feel challenged with the action taken by those who don't want to accept the fact that the sultan has the power to appoint a new MB."

Speaking after the launching of the national-level Dakwah month, Zahid, who is also the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of Islamic affairs, said Sivakumar's move reeked of political motives.

"We know that by him suspending the MB and the six exco members, the new state government would lose seven votes in the state assembly, and victory would be Pakatan Rakyat's."

He said the legal team from BN and Umno would be advising Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir on the next step to take.

"We are having our discussions now, including with the state BN chief and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak," he said.