{"id":8929,"date":"2014-06-05T12:40:20","date_gmt":"2014-06-05T04:40:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.therocket.com.my\/en\/?p=8929"},"modified":"2014-06-05T12:40:20","modified_gmt":"2014-06-05T04:40:20","slug":"whats-wrong-with-the-terengganu-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.therocket.com.my\/en\/whats-wrong-with-the-terengganu-crisis\/","title":{"rendered":"What&#8217;s\u00a0wrong\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0Terengganu\u00a0crisis?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"color: #222222;\"><strong>by Political\u00a0Studies\u00a0<wbr \/>for\u00a0Change (KPRU)<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_8931\" style=\"width: 403px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.therocket.com.my\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/10416984_10152271379663863_8643997861699555814_n.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8931\" class=\"wp-image-8931\" style=\"padding-left: 20px;\" src=\"http:\/\/www.therocket.com.my\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/10416984_10152271379663863_8643997861699555814_n.jpg\" alt=\"10416984_10152271379663863_8643997861699555814_n\" width=\"393\" height=\"393\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-8931\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Prime Minister Najib Razak attending the wedding of former Terengganu Menteri Besar Ahmad Said&#8217;s daughter<\/p><\/div>\n<p style=\"color: #222222;\">Election\u00a0fever\u00a0has\u00a0become\u00a0a\u00a0<wbr \/>phenomenon\u00a0in\u00a0this\u00a0equatorial\u00a0<wbr \/>country\u00a0ever\u00a0since\u00a0the\u00a0<span class=\"aBn\" tabindex=\"0\" data-term=\"goog_1015332366\"><span class=\"aQJ\">March\u00a08<\/span><\/span><wbr \/>\u00a0political\u00a0tsunami,\u00a0which\u00a0has\u00a0<wbr \/>changed\u00a0the\u00a0political\u00a0<wbr \/>landscape,\u00a0though\u00a0the\u00a0<wbr \/>political\u00a0transformation\u00a0has\u00a0<wbr \/>not\u00a0completed\u00a0yet.\u00a0To\u00a0a\u00a0<wbr \/>certain\u00a0extent,\u00a0each\u00a0<wbr \/>legislature\u00a0at\u00a0federal\u00a0and\u00a0<wbr \/>state\u00a0level\u00a0has\u00a0put\u00a0a\u00a0<wbr \/>different\u00a0complexion\u00a0on\u00a0<wbr \/>politics.\u00a0The\u00a0recent\u00a0<wbr \/>Terengganu\u00a0political\u00a0crisis\u00a0<wbr \/>and\u00a0the\u00a0storming\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0<wbr \/>Penang\u00a0state\u00a0assembly\u00a0by\u00a0UMNO\u00a0<wbr \/>members\u00a0have\u00a0to\u00a0do\u00a0with\u00a0<wbr \/>legislative\u00a0politics.<\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #222222;\">Legislative\u00a0politics\u00a0is\u00a0<wbr \/>different\u00a0from\u00a0election\u00a0<wbr \/>politics.\u00a0From\u00a0the\u00a0parliament\u00a0<wbr \/>to\u00a0legislature\u00a0assembly\u00a0in\u00a0<wbr \/>each\u00a0state,\u00a0the\u00a0most\u00a0frequent\u00a0<wbr \/>question\u00a0that\u00a0has\u00a0been\u00a0asked\u00a0<wbr \/>by\u00a0people\u00a0is\u00a0about\u00a0the\u00a0<wbr \/>attendance\u00a0of\u00a0members\u00a0of\u00a0elect<wbr \/>ed\u00a0representative,\u00a0and\u00a0as\u00a0for\u00a0<wbr \/>some\u00a0other\u00a0incidents\u00a0that\u00a0<wbr \/>have\u00a0happened\u00a0in\u00a0legislature\u00a0<wbr \/>they\u00a0have\u00a0merely\u00a0formed\u00a0a\u00a0<wbr \/>part\u00a0of\u00a0their\u00a0memory\u00a0as\u00a0<wbr \/>people\u00a0might\u00a0find\u00a0them\u00a0<wbr \/>obscure.\u00a0Obscurity\u00a0has\u00a0become\u00a0<wbr \/>a\u00a0byword\u00a0for\u00a0these\u00a0pieces\u00a0of\u00a0<wbr \/>memory\u00a0due\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0fact\u00a0that\u00a0<wbr \/>people\u00a0might\u00a0not\u00a0have\u00a0the\u00a0<wbr \/>foggiest\u00a0about\u00a0these\u00a0floating\u00a0<wbr \/>debris\u00a0of\u00a0memory.<\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #222222;\">The\u00a0most\u00a0unforgettable\u00a0<wbr \/>legislative\u00a0incident\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0<wbr \/>people\u00a0goes\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0seizure\u00a0of\u00a0<wbr \/>power\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0Perak\u00a0state,\u00a0and\u00a0<wbr \/>despite\u00a0that,\u00a0people\u00a0did\u00a0not\u00a0<wbr \/>necessarily\u00a0follow\u00a0on\u00a0all\u00a0the\u00a0<wbr \/>details\u00a0and\u00a0issues\u00a0arising\u00a0<wbr \/>from\u00a0the\u00a0incident\u00a0of\u00a0seizing\u00a0<wbr \/>power\u00a0in\u00a0Perak\u00a0state.<\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #222222;\">This\u00a0time\u00a0&#8211;\u00a0the\u00a0Terengganu\u00a0<wbr \/>crisis\u00a0is\u00a0not\u00a0only\u00a0a\u00a0political<wbr \/>\u00a0crisis,\u00a0but\u00a0also\u00a0a\u00a0\u2018legislati<wbr \/>ve\u00a0crisis\u2019.\u00a0The\u00a0lack\u00a0of\u00a0<wbr \/>pressure\u00a0from\u00a0people\u00a0in\u00a0<wbr \/>Terengganu\u00a0lies\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0<wbr \/>insufficient\u00a0knowledge\u00a0about\u00a0<wbr \/>legislative\u00a0which\u00a0has\u00a0saved\u00a0Na<wbr \/>jib\u00a0Razak\u2019s\u00a0shaky\u00a0hold\u00a0on\u00a0<wbr \/>power,\u00a0as\u00a0well\u00a0as\u00a0the\u00a0dying\u00a0<wbr \/>Terengganu\u00a0political\u00a0and\u00a0<wbr \/>legislative\u00a0crises\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0<wbr \/>jaws\u00a0of\u00a0death.<\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #222222;\">The\u00a0incident\u00a0got\u00a0serious.\u00a0<wbr \/>Media\u00a0started\u00a0to\u00a0report\u00a0<wbr \/>extensively\u00a0and\u00a0non-UMNO\u00a0<wbr \/>members\u00a0in\u00a0BN\u00a0also\u00a0thought\u00a0<wbr \/>that\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0red\u00a0flag.\u00a0Howeve<wbr \/>r,\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0Prime\u00a0Minister\u00a0Naj<wbr \/>ib\u2019s\u00a0statement\u00a0announcing\u00a0that<wbr \/>\u00a0the\u00a0Sultan\u00a0of\u00a0Terengganu,\u00a0Sul<wbr \/>tan\u00a0Mizan\u00a0Zainal\u00a0Abidin\u00a0had\u00a0co<wbr \/>nsented\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0resignation\u00a0of\u00a0<wbr \/>Ahmad\u00a0Said\u00a0as\u00a0well\u00a0as\u00a0the\u00a0<wbr \/>appointment\u00a0of\u00a0Ahmad\u00a0Razif\u00a0<wbr \/>Abd\u00a0Rahman\u00a0as\u00a0the\u00a0new\u00a0<wbr \/>Terengganu\u00a0Menteri\u00a0Besar;\u00a0to\u00a0<wbr \/>the\u00a0dramatic\u00a0twist\u00a0of\u00a0events\u00a0<wbr \/>where\u00a0Ahmad\u00a0Said\u00a0and\u00a0and\u00a0two\u00a0<wbr \/>other\u00a0UMNO\u00a0state\u00a0assemblymen\u00a0q<wbr \/>uited\u00a0the\u00a0party\u00a0and\u00a0then\u00a0<wbr \/>later\u00a0returned\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0party,\u00a0<wbr \/>there\u00a0appeared\u00a0an\u00a0unification\u00a0<wbr \/>in\u00a0media\u00a0reporting\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0<wbr \/>incident\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0preparedness<wbr \/>\u00a0to\u00a0deal\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0incidents\u00a0<wbr \/>from\u00a0different\u00a0angles.\u00a0As\u00a0<wbr \/>stability\u00a0wins\u00a0over\u00a0anything\u00a0<wbr \/>else,\u00a0water\u00a0leaves\u00a0behind\u00a0no\u00a0<wbr \/>trails\u00a0in\u00a0its\u00a0path.<\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #222222;\">From\u00a0Najib\u2019s\u00a0statement\u00a0on\u00a012th<wbr \/>\u00a0May\u00a02014\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0new\u00a0Menteri\u00a0<wbr \/>Besar\u00a0Ahman\u00a0Razif\u2019s\u00a0taking\u00a0of\u00a0<wbr \/>oath\u00a0of\u00a0office\u00a0before\u00a0Sultan\u00a0<wbr \/>Mizan;\u00a0and\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0former\u00a0<wbr \/>Menteri\u00a0Besar\u00a0Ahmad\u00a0Said\u2019s\u00a0<wbr \/>announcement\u00a0made\u00a0at\u00a0his\u00a0<wbr \/>official\u00a0residence\u00a0in\u00a0Kemaman\u00a0<wbr \/>as\u00a0to\u00a0his\u00a0decision\u00a0to\u00a0<wbr \/>withdraw\u00a0his\u00a0resignation\u00a0from\u00a0<wbr \/>UMNO,\u00a0the\u00a0whole\u00a0process\u00a0took\u00a0<wbr \/>shorter\u00a0than\u00a0two\u00a0days.\u00a0<wbr \/>Nonetheless,\u00a0all\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0<wbr \/>incidents\u00a0that\u00a0have\u00a0occurred\u00a0<wbr \/>in\u00a0the\u00a0midst\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0<wbr \/>Terengganu\u00a0crisis\u00a0must\u00a0not\u00a0be\u00a0<wbr \/>dismissed\u00a0out\u00a0of\u00a0hand,\u00a0<wbr \/>particularly\u00a0when\u00a0comes\u00a0to\u00a0<wbr \/>the\u00a0interpretation\u00a0of\u00a0matters\u00a0<wbr \/>involving\u00a0legislative,\u00a0which\u00a0<wbr \/>calls\u00a0for\u00a0some\u00a0clarification\u00a0<wbr \/>and\u00a0so\u00a0that\u00a0when\u00a0similar\u00a0<wbr \/>event\u00a0takes\u00a0place\u00a0in\u00a0future,\u00a0<wbr \/>people\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0particular\u00a0<wbr \/>state\u00a0would\u00a0no\u00a0longer\u00a0stay\u00a0<wbr \/>static\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0face\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0<wbr \/>crisis.<\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #222222;\">This\u00a0Terengganu\u00a0crisis,\u00a0after\u00a0<wbr \/>Ahmad\u00a0Said\u00a0and\u00a0two\u00a0other\u00a0UMNO\u00a0<wbr \/>state\u00a0assemblymen\u00a0quited\u00a0the\u00a0<wbr \/>party,\u00a0left\u00a0Barisan\u00a0Nasional\u00a0<wbr \/>with\u00a014\u00a0state\u00a0seats,\u00a0against\u00a0<wbr \/>Pakatan\u00a0Rakyat&#8217;s\u00a015\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0ass<wbr \/>embly,\u00a0giving\u00a0an\u00a0equation\u00a0of\u00a0<wbr \/>15:14:3,\u00a0with\u00a03\u00a0being\u00a0the\u00a0&#8220;ind<wbr \/>ependent\u00a0reps&#8221;.\u00a0On\u00a0the\u00a0same\u00a0<wbr \/>day,\u00a0that\u00a0is,\u00a013th\u00a0May,\u00a0the\u00a0Te<wbr \/>rengganu\u00a0state\u00a0legal\u00a0advisor\u00a0<wbr \/>Datuk\u00a0Azhar\u00a0Abdul\u00a0Hamid,\u00a0when\u00a0<wbr \/>contacted\u00a0by\u00a0Bernama,\u00a0has\u00a0<wbr \/>claimed\u00a0that\u00a0despite\u00a0the\u00a0fact\u00a0<wbr \/>that\u00a0the\u00a0number\u00a0of\u00a0BN\u00a0<wbr \/>assemblymen\u00a0had\u00a0dropped\u00a0from\u00a0<wbr \/>17\u00a0to\u00a014,\u00a0the\u00a0state\u00a0assembly\u00a0<wbr \/>Speaker\u00a0was\u00a0counted\u00a0as\u00a0a\u00a0<wbr \/>representative\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0ruling\u00a0<wbr \/>state\u00a0government,\u00a0thereby\u00a0givi<wbr \/>ng\u00a0an\u00a0equation\u00a0of\u00a015:15:3.<\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #222222;\">It\u00a0was\u00a0Wesak\u00a0day,\u00a0which\u00a0is\u00a0<wbr \/>also\u00a0a\u00a0public\u00a0holiday.\u00a0After\u00a0<wbr \/>founding\u00a0director\u00a0of\u00a0think\u00a0<wbr \/>tank\u00a0Political\u00a0Studies\u00a0for\u00a0<wbr \/>Change\u00a0(KPRU),\u00a0Ooi\u00a0Heng\u00a0and\u00a0<wbr \/>his\u00a0family\u00a0offered\u00a0prayers\u00a0in\u00a0<wbr \/>a\u00a0Buddhist\u00a0temple\u00a0and\u00a0after\u00a0he<wbr \/>\u00a0came\u00a0across\u00a0Azhar\u2019s\u00a0<wbr \/>misleading\u00a0statement,\u00a0Ooi\u00a0Heng<wbr \/>\u00a0shared\u00a0his\u00a0personal\u00a0view\u00a0on\u00a0<wbr \/>Facebook,\u00a0taking\u00a0the\u00a0view\u00a0<wbr \/>that\u00a0the\u00a0Speaker\u00a0shall\u00a0have\u00a0<wbr \/>the\u00a0casting\u00a0vote\u00a0only\u00a0when\u00a0<wbr \/>the\u00a0voting\u00a0comes\u00a0down\u00a0to\u00a0a\u00a0<wbr \/>tie.<\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #222222;\">After\u00a0talking\u00a0to\u00a0a\u00a0journalist,<wbr \/>\u00a0Ooi\u00a0Heng\u00a0is\u00a0even\u00a0convinced\u00a0<wbr \/>that\u00a0the\u00a0real\u00a0reason\u00a0behind\u00a0<wbr \/>Terengganu\u00a0state\u00a0legal\u00a0<wbr \/>advisor\u00a0making\u00a0misleading\u00a0<wbr \/>statement\u00a0was\u00a0to\u00a0buy\u00a0some\u00a0<wbr \/>time\u00a0for\u00a0UMNO\u2019s\u00a0political\u00a0<wbr \/>power,\u00a0so\u00a0as\u00a0to\u00a0resolve\u00a0the\u00a0<wbr \/>political\u00a0and\u00a0legislative\u00a0<wbr \/>crisis.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_8932\" style=\"width: 327px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.therocket.com.my\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/zubir.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8932\" class=\"wp-image-8932\" style=\"padding-right: 20px;\" src=\"http:\/\/www.therocket.com.my\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/zubir.jpg\" alt=\"zubir\" width=\"317\" height=\"310\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-8932\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Terengganu assembly speaker, Mohd Zubir Embong, is not an elected representative, as he was appointed as assembly speaker on 16th June 2013 after being defeated in the election for Kuala Terengganu parliamentary seat. Hence, the controversy over the question of whether the speaker\u2019s vote can be counted shall not even arise.<\/p><\/div>\n<p style=\"color: #222222;\">The\u00a0Federal\u00a0Constitution\u00a0has\u00a0<wbr \/>given\u00a0exposition\u00a0on\u00a0<wbr \/>legislative\u00a0power,\u00a0which\u00a0<wbr \/>includes\u00a0both\u00a0parliament\u00a0and\u00a0<wbr \/>state\u00a0assembly,\u00a0and\u00a0under\u00a0<wbr \/>which\u00a0the\u00a0Speaker\u2019s\u00a0voting\u00a0<wbr \/>right\u00a0is\u00a0also\u00a0covered.\u00a0The\u00a0<wbr \/>Federal\u00a0Constitution\u00a0is\u00a0<wbr \/>basically\u00a0modeled\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0<wbr \/>Westminster\u00a0parliamentary\u00a0<wbr \/>system.\u00a0Schedule\u00a08,\u00a0Paragraph\u00a0<wbr \/>10\u00a0(1B)\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0Federal\u00a0<wbr \/>Constitution\u00a0makes\u00a0it\u00a0clear\u00a0<wbr \/>that\u00a0the\u00a0Speaker\u00a0of\u00a0<wbr \/>legislative\u00a0assembly\u00a0who\u00a0is\u00a0<wbr \/>not\u00a0an\u00a0elected\u00a0representative\u00a0<wbr \/>has\u00a0no\u00a0voting\u00a0power.\u00a0Whereas\u00a0<wbr \/>according\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0Article\u00a027\u00a0(<wbr \/>1B)\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0Constitution\u00a0of\u00a0<wbr \/>Terengganu,\u00a0non-member\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0<wbr \/>Assembly\u00a0elected\u00a0as\u00a0Speaker\u00a0<wbr \/>has\u00a0no\u00a0voting\u00a0right.<\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #222222;\">Terengganu\u00a0assembly\u00a0speaker, Mohd\u00a0Zubir\u00a0Embong,\u00a0is\u00a0not\u00a0an\u00a0<wbr \/>elected\u00a0representative,\u00a0as\u00a0he\u00a0<wbr \/>was\u00a0appointed\u00a0as\u00a0assembly\u00a0<wbr \/>speaker\u00a0on\u00a016th\u00a0June\u00a02013\u00a0<wbr \/>after\u00a0being\u00a0defeated\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0<wbr \/>election\u00a0for\u00a0Kuala\u00a0Terengganu\u00a0<wbr \/>parliamentary\u00a0seat.\u00a0Hence,\u00a0<wbr \/>the\u00a0controversy\u00a0over\u00a0the\u00a0<wbr \/>question\u00a0of\u00a0whether\u00a0the\u00a0<wbr \/>speaker\u2019s\u00a0vote\u00a0can\u00a0be\u00a0counted\u00a0<wbr \/>shall\u00a0not\u00a0even\u00a0arise.<\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #222222;\">In\u00a0fact,\u00a0not\u00a0only\u00a0does\u00a0the\u00a0<wbr \/>state\u00a0assembly\u00a0follow\u00a0the\u00a0<wbr \/>Westminster\u00a0legislative\u00a0<wbr \/>custom,\u00a0but\u00a0the\u00a0parliament\u00a0of\u00a0<wbr \/>Malaysia\u00a0is\u00a0also\u00a0following\u00a0<wbr \/>the\u00a0system.\u00a0The\u00a0Article\u00a057\u00a0(<wbr \/>1A)\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0Federal\u00a0<wbr \/>Constitution\u00a0clearly\u00a0provides\u00a0<wbr \/>that\u00a0any\u00a0person\u00a0elected\u00a0as\u00a0<wbr \/>Speaker\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0House\u00a0of\u00a0<wbr \/>Representatives\u00a0who\u00a0is\u00a0not\u00a0a\u00a0<wbr \/>member\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0House\u00a0of\u00a0<wbr \/>Representatives\u00a0has\u00a0no\u00a0voting\u00a0<wbr \/>right.\u00a0Furthermore,\u00a0according\u00a0<wbr \/>to\u00a0the\u00a0Standing\u00a0Order\u00a045(1),\u00a0<wbr \/>the\u00a0speaker\u00a0shall\u00a0be\u00a0entitled\u00a0<wbr \/>to\u00a0give\u00a0his\u00a0deciding\u00a0ballot\u00a0<wbr \/>only\u00a0when\u00a0the\u00a0voting\u00a0comes\u00a0<wbr \/>down\u00a0to\u00a0a\u00a0tie\u00a0where\u00a0ayes\u00a0are\u00a0<wbr \/>equal\u00a0to\u00a0noes.\u00a0This\u00a0deciding\u00a0<wbr \/>ballot\u00a0can\u00a0be\u00a0known\u00a0as\u00a0the\u00a0<wbr \/>casting\u00a0vote,\u00a0or\u00a0\u2018undi\u00a0<wbr \/>pemutus\u2019\u00a0in\u00a0Malay.<\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #222222;\">The\u00a0aim\u00a0of\u00a0this\u00a0article\u00a0is\u00a0to\u00a0<wbr \/>clear\u00a0doubts\u00a0on\u00a0this\u00a0<wbr \/>legislative\u00a0incident,\u00a0and\u00a0as\u00a0<wbr \/>far\u00a0as\u00a0the\u00a0Speaker\u2019s\u00a0voting\u00a0<wbr \/>right\u00a0is\u00a0concerned,\u00a0no\u00a0<wbr \/>critical\u00a0comment\u00a0is\u00a0intended\u00a0<wbr \/>to\u00a0be\u00a0directed\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0roles\u00a0<wbr \/>that\u00a0both\u00a0government\u00a0and\u00a0the\u00a0<wbr \/>opposition\u00a0have\u00a0played\u00a0in\u00a0<wbr \/>this\u00a0political\u00a0power\u00a0crisis.\u00a0<wbr \/>However,\u00a0I\u00a0am\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0opinion\u00a0<wbr \/>that\u00a0despite\u00a0the\u00a0misleading\u00a0<wbr \/>statement\u00a0by\u00a0the\u00a0state\u00a0legal\u00a0<wbr \/>advisor,\u00a0government\u00a0and\u00a0<wbr \/>opposition\u00a0elites\u00a0should\u00a0<wbr \/>still\u00a0be\u00a0held\u00a0responsible\u00a0<wbr \/>politically\u00a0for\u00a0this\u00a0<wbr \/>legislative\u00a0incident.<\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #222222;\">It\u00a0is\u00a0indeed\u00a0bizarre\u00a0that\u00a0<wbr \/>both\u00a0government\u00a0and\u00a0<wbr \/>opposition\u00a0have\u00a0no\u00a0idea\u00a0about\u00a0<wbr \/>the\u00a0legislative\u00a0procedures\u00a0in\u00a0<wbr \/>the\u00a0Terengganu\u00a0state\u00a0assembly\u00a0<wbr \/>when\u00a0most\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0assembly\u00a0<wbr \/>members\u00a0are\u00a0from\u00a0UMNO\u00a0and\u00a0PAS.<wbr \/>\u00a0In\u00a0the\u00a0two\u00a0days\u00a0within\u00a0which\u00a0<wbr \/>the\u00a03\u00a0UMNO\u00a0state\u00a0assemblymen\u00a0<wbr \/>became\u00a0\u2018independent\u00a0reps\u2019\u00a0(<wbr \/>Less\u00a0than\u00a048\u00a0hours),\u00a0<wbr \/>Terengganu\u00a0state\u00a0assembly\u00a0has\u00a0<wbr \/>actually\u00a0been\u00a0beset\u00a0with\u00a0<wbr \/>crisis.\u00a0While\u00a0there\u00a0was\u00a0<wbr \/>likely\u00a0UMNO\u00a0fall\u00a0down\u00a0in\u00a0<wbr \/>Terengganu,\u00a0UMNO\u00a0has\u00a0<wbr \/>nonetheless\u00a0got\u00a0themselves\u00a0<wbr \/>some\u00a0time\u00a0to\u00a0stabilise\u00a0their\u00a0<wbr \/>shaky\u00a0hold\u00a0on\u00a0power.\u00a0Apart\u00a0<wbr \/>from\u00a0UMNO\u00a0taking\u00a0the\u00a0lead\u00a0in\u00a0<wbr \/>this\u00a0incident,\u00a0the\u00a0fact\u00a0that\u00a0<wbr \/>PAS\u00a0was\u00a0being\u00a0indifferent\u00a0to\u00a0<wbr \/>the\u00a0misleading\u00a0statement\u00a0will\u00a0<wbr \/>go\u00a0down\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0history\u00a0of\u00a0<wbr \/>legislative\u00a0politics.<\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #222222;\">History\u00a0is\u00a0bound\u00a0to\u00a0repeat\u00a0<wbr \/>when\u00a0political\u00a0elite&#8217;s\u00a0<wbr \/>political\u00a0action\u00a0has\u00a0not\u00a0been\u00a0<wbr \/>properly\u00a0examined. -The Rocket<\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #222222;\">*\u00a0<em>The views expressed in this article are the personal opinion of the columnist<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>by Political\u00a0Studies\u00a0for\u00a0Change (KPRU) Election\u00a0fever\u00a0has\u00a0become\u00a0a\u00a0phenomenon\u00a0in\u00a0this\u00a0equatorial\u00a0country\u00a0ever\u00a0since\u00a0the\u00a0March\u00a08\u00a0political\u00a0tsunami,\u00a0which\u00a0has\u00a0changed\u00a0the\u00a0political\u00a0landscape,\u00a0though\u00a0the\u00a0political\u00a0transformation\u00a0has\u00a0not\u00a0completed\u00a0yet.\u00a0To\u00a0a\u00a0certain\u00a0extent,\u00a0each\u00a0legislature\u00a0at\u00a0federal\u00a0and\u00a0state\u00a0level\u00a0has\u00a0put\u00a0a\u00a0different\u00a0complexion\u00a0on\u00a0politics.\u00a0The\u00a0recent\u00a0Terengganu\u00a0political\u00a0crisis\u00a0and\u00a0the\u00a0storming\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0Penang\u00a0state\u00a0assembly\u00a0by\u00a0UMNO\u00a0members\u00a0have\u00a0to\u00a0do\u00a0with\u00a0legislative\u00a0politics. Legislative\u00a0politics\u00a0is\u00a0different\u00a0from\u00a0election\u00a0politics.\u00a0From\u00a0the\u00a0parliament\u00a0to\u00a0legislature\u00a0assembly\u00a0in\u00a0each\u00a0state,\u00a0the\u00a0most\u00a0frequent\u00a0question\u00a0that\u00a0has\u00a0been\u00a0asked\u00a0by\u00a0people\u00a0is\u00a0about\u00a0the\u00a0attendance\u00a0of\u00a0members\u00a0of\u00a0elected\u00a0representative,\u00a0and\u00a0as\u00a0for\u00a0some\u00a0other\u00a0incidents\u00a0that\u00a0have\u00a0happened\u00a0in\u00a0legislature\u00a0they\u00a0have\u00a0merely\u00a0formed\u00a0a\u00a0part\u00a0of\u00a0their\u00a0memory\u00a0as\u00a0people\u00a0might\u00a0find\u00a0them\u00a0obscure.\u00a0Obscurity\u00a0has\u00a0become\u00a0a\u00a0byword\u00a0for\u00a0these\u00a0pieces\u00a0of\u00a0memory\u00a0due\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0fact\u00a0that\u00a0people\u00a0might\u00a0not\u00a0have\u00a0the\u00a0foggiest\u00a0about\u00a0these\u00a0floating\u00a0debris\u00a0of\u00a0memory. The\u00a0most\u00a0unforgettable\u00a0legislative\u00a0incident\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0people\u00a0goes\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0seizure\u00a0of\u00a0power\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0Perak\u00a0state,\u00a0and\u00a0despite\u00a0that,\u00a0people\u00a0did\u00a0not\u00a0necessarily\u00a0follow\u00a0on\u00a0all\u00a0the\u00a0details\u00a0and\u00a0issues\u00a0arising\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0incident\u00a0of\u00a0seizing\u00a0power\u00a0in\u00a0Perak\u00a0state. This\u00a0time\u00a0&#8211;\u00a0the\u00a0Terengganu\u00a0crisis\u00a0is\u00a0not\u00a0only\u00a0a\u00a0political\u00a0crisis,\u00a0but\u00a0also\u00a0a\u00a0\u2018legislative\u00a0crisis\u2019.\u00a0The\u00a0lack\u00a0of\u00a0pressure\u00a0from\u00a0people\u00a0in\u00a0Terengganu\u00a0lies\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0insufficient\u00a0knowledge\u00a0about\u00a0legislative\u00a0which\u00a0has\u00a0saved\u00a0Najib\u00a0Razak\u2019s\u00a0shaky\u00a0hold\u00a0on\u00a0power,\u00a0as\u00a0well\u00a0as\u00a0the\u00a0dying\u00a0Terengganu\u00a0political\u00a0and\u00a0legislative\u00a0crises\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0jaws\u00a0of\u00a0death. The\u00a0incident\u00a0got\u00a0serious.\u00a0Media\u00a0started\u00a0to\u00a0report\u00a0extensively\u00a0and\u00a0non-UMNO\u00a0members\u00a0in\u00a0BN\u00a0also\u00a0thought\u00a0that\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0red\u00a0flag.\u00a0However,\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0Prime\u00a0Minister\u00a0Najib\u2019s\u00a0statement\u00a0announcing\u00a0that\u00a0the\u00a0Sultan\u00a0of\u00a0Terengganu,\u00a0Sultan\u00a0Mizan\u00a0Zainal\u00a0Abidin\u00a0had\u00a0consented\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0resignation\u00a0of\u00a0Ahmad\u00a0Said\u00a0as\u00a0well\u00a0as\u00a0the\u00a0appointment\u00a0of\u00a0Ahmad\u00a0Razif\u00a0Abd\u00a0Rahman\u00a0as\u00a0the\u00a0new\u00a0Terengganu\u00a0Menteri\u00a0Besar;\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0dramatic\u00a0twist\u00a0of\u00a0events\u00a0where\u00a0Ahmad\u00a0Said\u00a0and\u00a0and\u00a0two\u00a0other\u00a0UMNO\u00a0state\u00a0assemblymen\u00a0quited\u00a0the\u00a0party\u00a0and\u00a0then\u00a0later\u00a0returned\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0party,\u00a0there\u00a0appeared\u00a0an\u00a0unification\u00a0in\u00a0media\u00a0reporting\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0incident\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0preparedness\u00a0to\u00a0deal\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0incidents\u00a0from\u00a0different\u00a0angles.\u00a0As\u00a0stability\u00a0wins\u00a0over\u00a0anything\u00a0else,\u00a0water\u00a0leaves\u00a0behind\u00a0no\u00a0trails\u00a0in\u00a0its\u00a0path. From\u00a0Najib\u2019s\u00a0statement\u00a0on\u00a012th\u00a0May\u00a02014\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0new\u00a0Menteri\u00a0Besar\u00a0Ahman\u00a0Razif\u2019s\u00a0taking\u00a0of\u00a0oath\u00a0of\u00a0office\u00a0before\u00a0Sultan\u00a0Mizan;\u00a0and\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0former\u00a0Menteri\u00a0Besar\u00a0Ahmad\u00a0Said\u2019s\u00a0announcement\u00a0made\u00a0at\u00a0his\u00a0official\u00a0residence\u00a0in\u00a0Kemaman\u00a0as\u00a0to\u00a0his\u00a0decision\u00a0to\u00a0withdraw\u00a0his\u00a0resignation\u00a0from\u00a0UMNO,\u00a0the\u00a0whole\u00a0process\u00a0took\u00a0shorter\u00a0than\u00a0two\u00a0days.\u00a0Nonetheless,\u00a0all\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0incidents\u00a0that\u00a0have\u00a0occurred\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0midst\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0Terengganu\u00a0crisis\u00a0must\u00a0not\u00a0be\u00a0dismissed\u00a0out\u00a0of\u00a0hand,\u00a0particularly\u00a0when\u00a0comes\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0interpretation\u00a0of\u00a0matters\u00a0involving\u00a0legislative,\u00a0which\u00a0calls\u00a0for\u00a0some\u00a0clarification\u00a0and\u00a0so\u00a0that\u00a0when\u00a0similar\u00a0event\u00a0takes\u00a0place\u00a0in\u00a0future,\u00a0people\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0particular\u00a0state\u00a0would\u00a0no\u00a0longer\u00a0stay\u00a0static\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0face\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0crisis. 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It\u00a0was\u00a0Wesak\u00a0day,\u00a0which\u00a0is\u00a0also\u00a0a\u00a0public\u00a0holiday.\u00a0After\u00a0founding\u00a0director\u00a0of\u00a0think\u00a0tank\u00a0Political\u00a0Studies\u00a0for\u00a0Change\u00a0(KPRU),\u00a0Ooi\u00a0Heng\u00a0and\u00a0his\u00a0family\u00a0offered\u00a0prayers\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0Buddhist\u00a0temple\u00a0and\u00a0after\u00a0he\u00a0came\u00a0across\u00a0Azhar\u2019s\u00a0misleading\u00a0statement,\u00a0Ooi\u00a0Heng\u00a0shared\u00a0his\u00a0personal\u00a0view\u00a0on\u00a0Facebook,\u00a0taking\u00a0the\u00a0view\u00a0that\u00a0the\u00a0Speaker\u00a0shall\u00a0have\u00a0the\u00a0casting\u00a0vote\u00a0only\u00a0when\u00a0the\u00a0voting\u00a0comes\u00a0down\u00a0to\u00a0a\u00a0tie. After\u00a0talking\u00a0to\u00a0a\u00a0journalist,\u00a0Ooi\u00a0Heng\u00a0is\u00a0even\u00a0convinced\u00a0that\u00a0the\u00a0real\u00a0reason\u00a0behind\u00a0Terengganu\u00a0state\u00a0legal\u00a0advisor\u00a0making\u00a0misleading\u00a0statement\u00a0was\u00a0to\u00a0buy\u00a0some\u00a0time\u00a0for\u00a0UMNO\u2019s\u00a0political\u00a0power,\u00a0so\u00a0as\u00a0to\u00a0resolve\u00a0the\u00a0political\u00a0and\u00a0legislative\u00a0crisis. The\u00a0Federal\u00a0Constitution\u00a0has\u00a0given\u00a0exposition\u00a0on\u00a0legislative\u00a0power,\u00a0which\u00a0includes\u00a0both\u00a0parliament\u00a0and\u00a0state\u00a0assembly,\u00a0and\u00a0under\u00a0which\u00a0the\u00a0Speaker\u2019s\u00a0voting\u00a0right\u00a0is\u00a0also\u00a0covered.\u00a0The\u00a0Federal\u00a0Constitution\u00a0is\u00a0basically\u00a0modeled\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0Westminster\u00a0parliamentary\u00a0system.\u00a0Schedule\u00a08,\u00a0Paragraph\u00a010\u00a0(1B)\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0Federal\u00a0Constitution\u00a0makes\u00a0it\u00a0clear\u00a0that\u00a0the\u00a0Speaker\u00a0of\u00a0legislative\u00a0assembly\u00a0who\u00a0is\u00a0not\u00a0an\u00a0elected\u00a0representative\u00a0has\u00a0no\u00a0voting\u00a0power.\u00a0Whereas\u00a0according\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0Article\u00a027\u00a0(1B)\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0Constitution\u00a0of\u00a0Terengganu,\u00a0non-member\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0Assembly\u00a0elected\u00a0as\u00a0Speaker\u00a0has\u00a0no\u00a0voting\u00a0right. Terengganu\u00a0assembly\u00a0speaker, Mohd\u00a0Zubir\u00a0Embong,\u00a0is\u00a0not\u00a0an\u00a0elected\u00a0representative,\u00a0as\u00a0he\u00a0was\u00a0appointed\u00a0as\u00a0assembly\u00a0speaker\u00a0on\u00a016th\u00a0June\u00a02013\u00a0after\u00a0being\u00a0defeated\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0election\u00a0for\u00a0Kuala\u00a0Terengganu\u00a0parliamentary\u00a0seat.\u00a0Hence,\u00a0the\u00a0controversy\u00a0over\u00a0the\u00a0question\u00a0of\u00a0whether\u00a0the\u00a0speaker\u2019s\u00a0vote\u00a0can\u00a0be\u00a0counted\u00a0shall\u00a0not\u00a0even\u00a0arise. In\u00a0fact,\u00a0not\u00a0only\u00a0does\u00a0the\u00a0state\u00a0assembly\u00a0follow\u00a0the\u00a0Westminster\u00a0legislative\u00a0custom,\u00a0but\u00a0the\u00a0parliament\u00a0of\u00a0Malaysia\u00a0is\u00a0also\u00a0following\u00a0the\u00a0system.\u00a0The\u00a0Article\u00a057\u00a0(1A)\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0Federal\u00a0Constitution\u00a0clearly\u00a0provides\u00a0that\u00a0any\u00a0person\u00a0elected\u00a0as\u00a0Speaker\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0House\u00a0of\u00a0Representatives\u00a0who\u00a0is\u00a0not\u00a0a\u00a0member\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0House\u00a0of\u00a0Representatives\u00a0has\u00a0no\u00a0voting\u00a0right.\u00a0Furthermore,\u00a0according\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0Standing\u00a0Order\u00a045(1),\u00a0the\u00a0speaker\u00a0shall\u00a0be\u00a0entitled\u00a0to\u00a0give\u00a0his\u00a0deciding\u00a0ballot\u00a0only\u00a0when\u00a0the\u00a0voting\u00a0comes\u00a0down\u00a0to\u00a0a\u00a0tie\u00a0where\u00a0ayes\u00a0are\u00a0equal\u00a0to\u00a0noes.\u00a0This\u00a0deciding\u00a0ballot\u00a0can\u00a0be\u00a0known\u00a0as\u00a0the\u00a0casting\u00a0vote,\u00a0or\u00a0\u2018undi\u00a0pemutus\u2019\u00a0in\u00a0Malay. The\u00a0aim\u00a0of\u00a0this\u00a0article\u00a0is\u00a0to\u00a0clear\u00a0doubts\u00a0on\u00a0this\u00a0legislative\u00a0incident,\u00a0and\u00a0as\u00a0far\u00a0as\u00a0the\u00a0Speaker\u2019s\u00a0voting\u00a0right\u00a0is\u00a0concerned,\u00a0no\u00a0critical\u00a0comment\u00a0is\u00a0intended\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0directed\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0roles\u00a0that\u00a0both\u00a0government\u00a0and\u00a0the\u00a0opposition\u00a0have\u00a0played\u00a0in\u00a0this\u00a0political\u00a0power\u00a0crisis.\u00a0However,\u00a0I\u00a0am\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0opinion\u00a0that\u00a0despite\u00a0the\u00a0misleading\u00a0statement\u00a0by\u00a0the\u00a0state\u00a0legal\u00a0advisor,\u00a0government\u00a0and\u00a0opposition\u00a0elites\u00a0should\u00a0still\u00a0be\u00a0held\u00a0responsible\u00a0politically\u00a0for\u00a0this\u00a0legislative\u00a0incident. It\u00a0is\u00a0indeed\u00a0bizarre\u00a0that\u00a0both\u00a0government\u00a0and\u00a0opposition\u00a0have\u00a0no\u00a0idea\u00a0about\u00a0the\u00a0legislative\u00a0procedures\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0Terengganu\u00a0state\u00a0assembly\u00a0when\u00a0most\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0assembly\u00a0members\u00a0are\u00a0from\u00a0UMNO\u00a0and\u00a0PAS.\u00a0In\u00a0the\u00a0two\u00a0days\u00a0within\u00a0which\u00a0the\u00a03\u00a0UMNO\u00a0state\u00a0assemblymen\u00a0became\u00a0\u2018independent\u00a0reps\u2019\u00a0(Less\u00a0than\u00a048\u00a0hours),\u00a0Terengganu\u00a0state\u00a0assembly\u00a0has\u00a0actually\u00a0been\u00a0beset\u00a0with\u00a0crisis.\u00a0While\u00a0there\u00a0was\u00a0likely\u00a0UMNO\u00a0fall\u00a0down\u00a0in\u00a0Terengganu,\u00a0UMNO\u00a0has\u00a0nonetheless\u00a0got\u00a0themselves\u00a0some\u00a0time\u00a0to\u00a0stabilise\u00a0their\u00a0shaky\u00a0hold\u00a0on\u00a0power.\u00a0Apart\u00a0from\u00a0UMNO\u00a0taking\u00a0the\u00a0lead\u00a0in\u00a0this\u00a0incident,\u00a0the\u00a0fact\u00a0that\u00a0PAS\u00a0was\u00a0being\u00a0indifferent\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0misleading\u00a0statement\u00a0will\u00a0go\u00a0down\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0history\u00a0of\u00a0legislative\u00a0politics. History\u00a0is\u00a0bound\u00a0to\u00a0repeat\u00a0when\u00a0political\u00a0elite&#8217;s\u00a0political\u00a0action\u00a0has\u00a0not\u00a0been\u00a0properly\u00a0examined. -The Rocket *\u00a0The views expressed in this article are the personal opinion of the columnist<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8929","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cover-story"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.therocket.com.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8929","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.therocket.com.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.therocket.com.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.therocket.com.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.therocket.com.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8929"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.therocket.com.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8929\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8933,"href":"https:\/\/www.therocket.com.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8929\/revisions\/8933"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.therocket.com.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8929"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.therocket.com.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8929"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.therocket.com.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8929"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}