The date Feb 5, 2007 was a sad day for the people of Perak. It was the day when the legally-elected and people-friendly Pakatan Rakyat (PR) government in the state was brought down by the defection of three of their assembly persons to the Barisan Nasional (BN).

Bringing down a government that is duly elected by the people by the defection of lawmakers, though it may be legal, is a despicable act that should be abhorred by all parties. It simply implies total disregard for the wishes of the people who elected them.

By these defections, the PR government may have lost its majority and its downfall is inevitable but this could have been done in a more professional way in keeping with the provisions of the state constitution.

It was disheartening to witness the way the duly elected and people-oriented government was ousted with little consideration for the sensitivities of the people who elected them. Worse still, it was orchestrated by none other than the man who is poised to become the next prime minister.

As soon as the Pakatan Rakyat menteri besar was ordered to resign by the royal action whose legality is being disputed by many constitutional experts, police swiftly moved to take over the state secretariat, his office was emptied of all documents and all roads to his official residence were sealed off.

It gave the impression that the whole process was pre-planned and executed with great precision, unlike other government policies.

There have been doubts cast on the reasons for defection of the assembly persons especially with regards to monetary inducements and their integrity with impending corruption charges against two. Then there is the controversy regarding their status as assembly persons, which is awaiting a court decision.

Despite all these perceived controversies and uncertainties, the sultan decided to sack the incumbent menteri besar and his government and hastily rushed to install a new menteri besar within 24 hours, unlike10 months ago when the Pakatan Rakyat, after winning the elections, had to wait for more than two weeks to be installed.

Although what the ruler has done may be legal in the eyes of the law but was it right? Is it what his subjects and the rakyat in general want? In an era of advanced information technology and with a more informed populace, it is regrettable.

The sultan's actions were criticised furiously over cyberspace. All the people wanted was a chance to re-elect their representatives in a snap election which the sultan refused.

The subsequent protest by ordinary citizens in Kuala Kangsar against the installing of the new BN menteri besar was unprecedented and was a clear sign of the people's displeasure and disapproval of the ruler's actions in giving in to the bullying tactics of the ruling party.

It was like in the duel between David and Goliath and the sultan chose to side the latter although from small, we are taught that David was the righteous one and deserved to win.

It is sad that the Perak royalty, which was so revered, had made this decision. The people were so surprised that their ruler who was also a former chief justice, whom they respected so much, could let them down when it really mattered - on their right to choose their own government.

As a result of public resentment and anger, the installation of the new BN exco was done under heavy police security without the presence of the most important element - the rakyat. What was supposed to be a joyous occasion for the people was conducted within the privacy of the palace walls under the scrutiny of the police and without the people.

Sworn under such circumstances, how can the new government claim to be a government of the people, for the people and by the people?

In this whole episode of forced change of the government in Perak, the most glaring and disturbing fact was the way the people's wisdom and intellect have been grossly underestimated to the extent of even being insulted.

The people today are more literate and wiser and are ready to assert their rights to choose their government and they will detest if denied that basic right, even if by the revered royalty.

The people have demonstrated their high level of wisdom, intelligence and maturity at the last general election but unfortunately, our politicians still do not seem to appreciate those calls for change that transcend race and religion.

Instead of heeding the calls for change, they continue to insult the wisdom and intelligence of the masses. In a highly sophisticated world and with the rapidly increasing cyberspace population, there is no way any power can stop the increasing maturity of the people.

Changing a legitimate government by political crossovers and the buying of defectors is wrong and the people will punish these errant and wayward wakil rakyat when the time comes. Malaysians of all races are mature enough to do the right thing at the right time.

The politicians must realise that there are no shortcuts to winning the hearts of the people other than by their hard work, honesty and integrity. That is the only way to form a lasting people-oriented government - not by defections or other underhand tactics.