By-Elections in Bukit Gantang(Parliament) and Bukit Selambau (State Assembly) and counting?
www.malaysiakini.com
February 9, 2009
Kedah Menteri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak today announced that exco member V Arumugam has stepped down as the state assemblyperson for Bukit Selambau, necessitating in a by-election in next 60 days.
“With regret I would like to announce that Arumugam has resigned as the Bukit Selambau state assemblyperson with immediate effect,” he told reporters at his official residence in Alor Star. Azizan said that he received Arumugam’s resignation letter dated February 8 at 5pm today.
He added that a copy of the letter was also handed over to state assembly speaker Abdul Isa Ismail, who will now have to declare the seat vacant and inform the Election Commission to call for a by-election.
According to Bernama, Azizan said, Arumugam had sent two letters through a representative – one stating his resignation as assemblyperson to the speaker and the other to him to inform that he was stepping down from both posts.
Asked about the reasons for Arumugam’s resignation, Azizan said the former had mentioned about receiving threats to defect to Barisan Nasional. He added that Arumugam mentioned that he was offered RM5 million to crossover. “I respect his stand in rejecting the RM5 million offer and according to the letter, he (Arumugam) had been receiving threats since March 2008 and fearing for his and his family’s safety, he took the decision to resign,” he said.
This was Azizan’s second announcement in regards to Arumugam.
First resignation
Earlier today, the menteri besar had said that Arumugam had relinquished his post as the exco member but will continue as Bukit Selambau state assemblyperson.Arumugam was in charge of trade, consumer affairs, welfare of the estate workers and Indian community affairs.
He was an independent candidate who joined the PKR after the general election. His decision today comes after weeks of speculation that he would be giving up politics altogether. He had recently complained that he was being threatened to defect from the Pakatan Rakyat-led state to BN. In more recent weeks, certain details of his personal life have been used against him to force him to step down as a state representative.
Arumugam, 54, could not be contacted for confirmation. He has been incommunicado since last week.
Letter to HRH Sultan
Speaking to reporters in Alor Star earlier today, Azizan said that Arumugam had sent his resignation letter as an exco member to Sultan Kedah Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah today. “The letter was sent from Kuala Lumpur to the Sultan’s office at Wisma Darul Aman,” he said.
Arumugam had also conveyed his decision to Azizan’s aide this morning, citing personal reasons for his decision. “I tried to call him but he was not contactable. I don’t have a copy of his resignation letter,” added Azizan.
Azizan said that portfolio would now be taken up by another representative from PKR. Early this month, Arumugan had lodged a police report claiming, among others, that there was an attempt to kidnap him.
He also claimed that he and his officers have received numerous threats. “All of this is being done in order to force me to leave PKR and move to Barisan Nasional,” he had said after lodging the police report. He had said that apart from the threats, he was also approached with lucrative offers in order to coax him into leaving PKR.
Last minute candidate
Last week, talks of Arumugam leaving PKR heated up again, especially when he could not be contacted by anyone. His party colleagues then revealed that he was on leave.
Kedah – which was an Umno stronghold fell – into the hands of Pakatan Rakyat following the March 8 general election.
A retired Royal Malaysia Airforce mechanic Arumugam won the Bukit Selambau seat by defeating Barisan Nasional/MIC candidate S Krishnan with a majority of 7,695 votes.
He emerged at the last minute as the independent candidate when the returning officer rejected the nomination papers of Saiful Izham Ramli of PKR on technical grounds.
The by-election in Bukit Selambau means that Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat would have to face simultaneous election campaigns as the Bukit Gantang parliamentary seat also became vacant today following the death of PAS’ Roslan Shaharum.
It seems like this country has nothing better to do except to buy over opposition politicians , intimidate them or push them to resign their posts. Acts of God excepted. We forget that an increasing number of our fellow compatriots are without jobs or the means to support their family.We are now in an orgy of by elections to the irritation of voters and at the expense of taxpayers and the economy. Then, what can I say! It is Bolehland.(boleh…..tipu).
That said, I hope voters in Bukit Gantang and Bukit Selambu show that they have enough of the present regime which will be led by Najib after March, 2009 and give their mandate to Pakatan Rakyat and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who should be given the chance to lead the next Federal Government.—-eiz
eiz235 - February 10, 2009 at 8:41 am
whatever happens win or lose the people will continue to suffer in this uncertain economic situation. politics prevail over the belly of the rakyat.
patrickayu - February 10, 2009 at 10:15 am
What man proposes, God disposes. The two by-elections are God’s way of telling the BN that the people of Perak would fix them for cheating their way to power by voting for the PR. Hopefully the anticipated landslide victory of the PR in both by-elections will make HRH Sultan Azlan Shah reverse his earlier decision of sanctioning Najis’ coup de tat and call for a dissolution of the Perak state assembly for snap polls to decide who – PR or BN – has the support of the people to rule the state
fandango - February 10, 2009 at 11:06 am
Am sure many netizens totally agree with comment from eiz235.The evil BN regime after tasting blood with their win in Perak by using dirty tactics to undermine the reps, have now become even bolder in carrying out their hopping strategy.
Now with the help from Special Branch of the Polis (equivalent to SS of Hitler’s regime), Evil BN regime will resort to gestapo methods to intimidate reps who won’t take their dirty momey to cross over and forcing them to resign from their posts.
Voters of Bukit Gantang & Selambu, rise up to the challange and show the evil BN regime that they are not wanted in your area by voting them out in the by-election! You have the power to change the political landscape!
Justine - February 10, 2009 at 12:47 pm
by-election in bukit gantang = YAB Nizar, a rising bright super-clean STAR, pls GO GO GO for it !! GODBLESS !
stcin - February 10, 2009 at 2:17 pm
R-A-H-M-A-N (Nizar ) = our future STAR !
stcin - February 10, 2009 at 2:19 pm
“Hopefully the anticipated landslide victory of the PR in both by-elections will make HRH Sultan Azlan Shah reverse his earlier decision of sanctioning Najis’ coup de tat and call for a dissolution of the Perak state assembly for snap polls to decide who – PR or BN – has the support of the people to rule the state”
If the issue was with the Sultan, it no longer is as we speak. There’s nothing in law to suggest that he could re-visit the issue. In judical terms, it is res judicata.
Mr Bean - February 10, 2009 at 7:25 pm
“If the issue was with the Sultan, it no longer is as we speak. There’s nothing in law to suggest that he could re-visit the issue. In judical terms, it is res judicata.”
Even the clause,in a lottery draw – ” the decision of the Judges is final ” – is not final and can be challenged in the Court of Law.
Of course,we are refering to the special powers of the Sultan, here, but if the Sultan is above the Law, who is to stop him if he chooses to re-visit the issue ?
ocho-onda - February 10, 2009 at 8:04 pm
But he won’t. End of story.
Mr Bean - February 10, 2009 at 10:50 pm
End of story ? For the people,politicians,state,country or who ?
ocho-onda - February 11, 2009 at 1:23 am
If you read Article 16 (6) of the Perak State Constitution, and compare it to Article 40 Federal Constitution 1957, it lacks the fluidity and flexibility apparent in the language used in the latter.
Sec 16 (6) Perak State Constitution:
Events stated therein that must happen and their sequence.
1. MB loses confidence in the State Legislative Assembly;
2. MB requests Sultan;
HRH dissolves the Legislative Assembly.
3. MB tenders the resignation of the State Exco;
HRH does not dissolve the Legislative Assembly.
Apparently the mistake that PR leaders made was failing to preempt the move made later made by Najib. Had they moved first than we wouldn’t be embroiled in issues regarding the constitutionality of the take-over.
Note: nowhere is the word ‘discretion’ used under Article 16 (6). If the issue were to go to the court, reference first will have to be made to the intent of the framers of the legislation. In case of doubt the justices of the Federal Court may resort to legislating from the Bench and with Justice Zaki on the Bench, it can only go one way.
Mr Bean - February 11, 2009 at 5:52 pm