Pakatan Rakyat will file a legal suit to challenge the appointment of Perak's new menteri besar Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir.

Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim said a team of lawyers will look into the laws pertaining to the appointment.

pakatan rakyat pc perak situation 060209 anwar ibrahim lim kit siang "We are challenging his appointment today as we think it's invalid," he told a press conference at the PKR headquarters in Tropicana Damansara this afternoon.

In a strongly-worded statement issued later, the leaders of the opposition alliance also condemned Barisan Nasional's 'uncouth' manner in seizing control of the state.

They also criticised the manner in which Pakatan Menteri Besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin was treated, including the confiscation of his belongings from the menteri besar's office.

nizar jamaludin perak mb last day bn takeover 060209 03 "We strongly condemn these actions," read the statement inked by Anwar, DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang and PAS deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa.

They also called on the public to remain calm and urged the police to act professionally.

Zambry was sworn in as the 11th Perak menteri besar by Sultan Azlan Shah today to replace Pakatan's Mohammad Nizar.

Pakatan MB refuses to resign

Mohammad Nizar was asked by the sultan to step down after BN acquired more members in the state assembly.

Mohammad Nizar however refused to step down, insisting that by virtue of the state constitution, he can only be asked to step down on a vote of no confidence tabled at the assembly.

He will be filing a court application to declare the swearing-in of Zambry today as unconstitutional.

All 28 Pakatan state assemblypersons boycotted the ceremony.

Meanwhile, Anwar told reporters that Mohd Nizar was not defying the sultan. "He was just respecting the law and democracy," he said.

Elaborating on the legal suit, he said it will only be completed once it is agreed by Nizar and the Pakatan leaders.

He was responding to a question on DAP chairperson Karpal Singh's statement that he will take legal action against the Sultan and the new state government next Tuesday.

"I have contacted Karpal about this issue but Pakatan has decided that we should challenge and question the legality of the new menteri besar’s appointment which we believe is unlawful," said Anwar.

He also revealed that Pakatan leaders "expect an audience with the sultan to express our views and concern."

Vague on party-hopping

Meanwhile, the PKR supremo said his party will continue to accept defectors if they are prepared to publicly denounce BN.

He said this is because under current laws, if a legislator resigns they cannot contest in elections for a period of five years hence changing party is "the only option".

Anwar claimed that BN is afraid of holding new elections and expressed confidence that Pakatan will be able to regain its majority in Perak if elections are held.

He challenged the new BN government to hold fresh state elections, and said it was running scared after losing two by-elections for parliamentary seats in recent months.

"Then we will see if they have the mandate. Let's settle this once and for all," he said.

Anwar however refused to express support for a law that will require defectors to vacate their seats and run for re-election.

Fellow Pakatan leaders Lim Guan Eng (DAP-Bagan) and Khalid Samad (PAS-Shah Alam) have backed such an amendment.

Anwar maintained that PKR was "studying" the issue.

Also present at the press conference were PKR deputy president Syed Husin Ali, DAP's Lim, PKR vice-president Azmin Ali, PKR information chief Tian Chua, PAS central committee member Syed Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi, PAS secretary-general Kamaruddin Jaafar, PAS MP Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad and DAP MPs Tony Pua and Tan Seng Giaw.

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