Ousted Perak Menteri Besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin was today granted leave by the Federal Court to appeal against a Court of Appeal decision on the legitimate Perak menteri besar issue.

Nizar's lawyer Leong Cheok Keng immediately declared the granting of the leave as a "victorious step for Nizar".

"Such a leave is sparingly granted by the Federal Court," he said.

nizar appeal to federal court 190609 07 With the leave, Nizar can now appeal against the decision made by the Court of Appeal on May 22 that Barisan Nasional's Zambry Abdul Kadir was the rightful menteri besar.

The Court of Appeal had overturned a decision made by the High Court which had ruled in favour of Nizar.

Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail, who acted as an intervener, and Cecil Abraham, who was representing Zambry, had no objections for the leave application.

The Federal Court will now hear submissions to interpret three constitutional questions drafted by Nizar's legal team, led by former Bar Council chairperson Ambiga Srenevasan.

The questions concern whether the Perak ruler can dismiss the menteri besar and elect a new one when the incumbent has not resigned nor was there a vote of no confidence passed.

The panel of the Federal Court today was made up of justices Alauddin Mohd Sheriff, Arifin Zakaria and Zulkefli Ahmad Makinuddin.

No date has been fixed to hear the appeal but the court said it would fix an early date.

Leong said that it was supposed to be a five-member panel but no explanation was given as to why only three judges turned up for the leave application.

"Will push for a nine-member panel for the appeal proper," Leong added.

Stay order denied

The Federal Court however rejected Nizar's application for a stay order to prevent Zambry from carrying out his duties as menteri besar.

Nizar wanted the Federal Court to prevent Zambry from reversing the Pakatan government policies until the matter was fully disposed.

Ambiga, who acted for Nizar today as lead counsel Sulaiman Abdullah was unwell, told the judges that Zambry's decision might be "impossible" to reverse later in the event the court ruled in the Pakatan man's favour.

sivakumar and zambry at perak state assembly 130509 04 In his affidavit, Nizar claimed that Zambry ( right ) has reversed some of the policies implemented by the Pakatan government.

Among them were the welfare programmes approved under the state budget and several contractual agreements.

He added that welfare policies such as special funds for senior citizens, people who suffer from chronic diseases, homeless old folks, disable persons, orphans and those who live in dire poverty were not being executed properly by the BN-led state government.

He further said that Zambry had also neglected funds allocated for small businesses.

"They have also stopped giving ownership and permanent grants to new villages... (And) ended the services of 817 village heads in all villages in Perak," said Ambiga, reading out the affidavit.

On top of that, Zambry's government also terminated the services of 342 local councillors and replaced them with councillors suggested by BN, added Nizar's affidavit.

The other claims made to support the stay application were Zambry's decision to slow down the 'Ipoh Sentral' project, the auctioning of Toyota Camry official cars used by the Pakatan government and the approval of new mining lands.

Strongly objected by Zambry's lawyer

Zambry's lawyer Abraham objected to the stay application, likening it to an injunction to stop the present menteri besar from performing his duties.

"The court has no jurisdiction to interfere... the policies may be right or wrong but it is up to the politicians (to solve)," said Abraham, adding that such decisions were in the powers of executives.

"If the stay is granted, the High Court orders will be reinstated and the appellant (Nizar) will become the menteri besar," he argued.

Likewise, Abdul Gani also objected to the stay, stating that Zambry was merely acting to preserve his status quo in his capacity as the menteri besar.

bersih 21 charged in petaling jaya session court 230109 ambiga In rebuttal Ambiga ( left ) pointed out to a stay order granted to Zambry by the Court of Appeal after the High Court had ruled in favour of Nizar as the menteri besar.

"(It) would have the same effect as Nizar's stay application now," she said.

"It does not lie in their (Zambry' legal team) mouths to say we cannot make a similar application."

The federal Court panel was however not convinced and rejected the stay application.