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KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's highest court Tuesday rejected an opposition bid to reclaim control of a northern state, ruling that the Barisan Nasional government's takeover last year was legal.
Perak state was left in political limbo in February 2009 when the Barisan Nasional, which rules nationally, moved to oust the Pakatan Rakyat opposition alliance, which won the state in polls the previous year.
After defections cost the Pakatan Rakyat the balance of power, the state sultan ordered it to quit but it refused, leading to a prolonged legal battle.
The Federal Court ruled Tuesday that the Barisan Nasional had a slim majority in the state assembly and ordered the Pakatan Rakyat state leader Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin and his cabinet to quit.
In a unanimous decision, it said that Perak's royal ruler had the "exclusive right" to dissolve the assembly and that there was no need for the no-confidence vote demanded by the opposition.
Nizar condemned the decision and said it could lead to Malaysia becoming an "absolute monarchy" where the royal rulers could dismiss an elected government at will.
"This is the blackest day for the people of Perak and peace-loving Malaysians," he told reporters. "The verdict has set aside all constitutional precedents. Democracy has been torn into pieces."
Nizar said the opposition would consider whether launching a review of the judgement, which would be its final legal avenue.
In an unruly gathering outside the court, some 400 supporters from both sides shouted at each other and chanted "Justice for Perak" and "God is Great" as dozens of riot police stood guard.
Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail dismissed the criticism and said there was no truth to the claims that Malaysia - where state sultans take turns to serve for five years as king - could turn into an absolute monarchy.
"It is not right. Everybody has a place, the judiciary, the executive the sultans, everybody," he said outside the court.
Malaysia's justice system is also facing a stern test in the ongoing trial of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, who faces sodomy charges that carry a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment.
Anwar, who has said the allegations are politically motivated, on Monday moved to have the presiding judge disqualified, complaining he had refused to rein in biased media coverage of the case.
The judge was to have heard the disqualification application on Tuesday but the hearing was postponed until Wednesday.
- AFP/sc
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