It is baffling and shocking to see the state of affairs in Perak. The crossover of three state assembly person has led to a crisis in the Silver State. Why did the three defectors abandon their parties? Their unethical behaviour will lead to severe problems for the rakyat who voted them into office.
 
The Sultan of Perak, with my highest respect to him, appears to have merely acted based on the provisions of the state constitution and perhaps also on the advice of his legal advisors.

He should have given due consideration to the fact that the state government would remain unstable because it is a ‘hung’ government with the same number of seats on both sides of the political divide.

These ‘political frogs’ who hopped from one party to another could also change their minds at anytime and go back to Pakatan Rakyat, just like how the Bota assembly person did after he crossed and re-crossed over.

It only takes two assembly persons from Barisan Nasional to switch camps to Pakatan and the new government would collapse. If that happens, the palace would be kept busy swearing-in new menteri besar and exco members.
 
Did the palace ever gauge the views, feelings, sentiments and emotions of the rakyat who voted in these politicians? I wish to quote the Raja Muda of Perak Raja Nazrin Shah when he addressed a conference in Sarawak last year.

He said: ‘To strengthen integrity, the rulers shall hold consultations and negotiations, gather opinions and be open-minded to assess each advice rationally, objectively and fairly’.
 
I only wish that the decision made by the Sultan of Perak took into account what his son had said.  
The situation in Perak would certainly be very fragile with the feuding parties fighting for their rights and survival. I only hope that the sultan’s decision would not lead to any untoward problems, conflicts and crisis in Perak.
 
In England there is a saying: Above the people is the government and above the government is the queen and above the queen is God and in the end, it is the people who decide on the fate of those below God. I sincerely hope we will come to realise and appreciate this saying.

I would have been very happy with any decision on the status of the state assembly if it took into account the views, feelings, sentiments and emotions of the rakyat. This is certainly part and parcel of the democratic environment that we dearly cherish.  

What happened in Perak is that three defectors have decided on the fate of a rightfully and legally -elected government. In the end, the democratic system that we uphold and cherish has been  undermined, leaving people angry, disappointed and divided.

Is this what we are looking for? Does this in any way contribute to political stability, peace and harmony?
 
I, like many right thinking Malaysians, was hoping that the final verdict would come from the rakyat through the ballot box. For those who value democratic principles, it was painful to watch the rakyat’s choice sidelined and their voice silenced.

I only pray and hope that the so-called ‘anti-hop law’ is quickly introduced so that these ‘political frogs’ would not go party hopping and shatter the peace and harmony that we enjoy in our beloved nation.