Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Sultan Azlan Shah, Ampun Tuanku, beribu ribu ampun, titah patik harap diampun ,

Tuanku,

I hope this letter finds you in excellent health. Please permit me to be the voice of some concerned citizens on the recent happenings in the state of Perak

On you’re the 25th anniversary of rule celebrations, your son the Regent of Perak, sang glowing praises of you as the monarch who had the people’s interest at heart.

Raja Dr Nazrin Shah said that the ruler, as the head of state, needs to be neutral, non-partisan and free of having personal interest to ensure justice for the people.

No doubt you have arrived at your decision not to dissolve the Perak state assembly based on the technicality that Menteri besar Mohd Nizar no longer commands the majority of the state assembly.

I humbly ask that you put aside your illustrious career in jurisprudence and legal background to see with your heart. There are enough people to look at it from the legal angle. Many hope that you will look at it as a jury representing the people rather than a judge.

The monarchy is regarded as the fourth pillar of democracy in a system such as ours. With the other three pillars namely the executive, parliament and judiciary arguably in many instances not complying to the doctrine requiring the separation of powers, the people have turned their hope to the monarchy

Please permit me to quote the Raja Muda again:

‘The presence of the ruler helps in enhancing the effectiveness of the check and balance mechanism, thus strengthening the institutions of the legislature, executive and judiciary that have been created in the country; lifting the level of public confidence in the system of government and system of nationhood based on democratic practices, and the doctrine of the division of power’.

At the moment nobody holds a majority, the Perak assembly is divided 28 to 28 down the middle. The three who have pledged allegiance to BN are still independents and we can speculate whether they did so by monetary incitement, under duress , personal dissatisfaction or genuine conviction.

Much has been opined about this by various parties and many ordinary citizens inside and outside of Perak see the circumstances as glaringly dubious.

Needles to say there is a huge outpouring of dissatisfactions that does not show signs of an amicable solution, not to mention the possibility of politicians harnessing the sentiments of the rakyat for personal gain.

Judging from dissatisfactions within political parties , it is not beyond probability that some may change political allegiances in the opposite direction in the near future and again bring up a debacle for the palace to decide on.

We can understand that dissolving mandates and calling for elections at the drop of the hat are unhealthy not to mention incurring substantial costs. Thus there are articles within the constitution that put caveats that prevent polls from being called for frivolous reasons.

This impasse has forced you to choose between two decisions - dissolve the state assembly or allow current status quo to prevail which is to allow whoever that commands the majority to form the state government.

I offer a third solution - call for a statewide referendum of all eligible voters.

The referendum can be conducted by an independent party other than the Election Commission under the supervision of the palace.

This will allow Perakians to decide whether status quo should remain or to call for fresh polls.

Your Highness will also be able to take comfort that whatever decision taken thereafter would truly be in the spirit and wishes of the rakyat.

Ampun Tuanku