I refer to the Malaysiakini report Sultan has no powers to ask Nizar to quit .

Former Court of Appeals Judge Justice NH Chan wrote a compelling piece from the legal point of view and echoed the disappointment of many Malaysians and Perakians over the sultan’s decision not to dissolve the Perak state assembly at the request of Menteri Besar Nizar Jamaluddin.

That decision leading to BN’s takeover of the Perak state government has resulted in immense criticism of the sultan’s decision. The previously sky-high reputation of the sultan has overnight been reduced significantly.

The independent Merdeka Centre’s survey that 76% of respondents want early elections is manifestly clear on the fact that the sultan has lost the support of many of his subjects.

Judging from the voices in the Internet sphere, I believe many Umno members and Malaysians are of the belief that Najib Abdul Razak’s actions in manoeuvering the takeover of Perak government has indirectly resulted in the previously revered reputation of the sultan now being reduced considerably.

The sultan’s reputation, however, can be restored if Zambry Abdul Kadir immediately requests an audience with the sultan to request for the dissolution of the Perak state assembly.

I think the Perak fiasco has served as a lesson to Malaysians. The manoeuverings resulted in the unintended consequences of the revered Perak sultan’s decision now being seriously criticised by his subjects.

It also shows that the takeover of a government through party-hopping is definitely not the wise thing to do. Anwar Ibrahim, on Sept 16 had said that he would call early elections if his takeover of federal government occurred.

On this principle, he had differed from the Perak BN’s clinging to power without calling for early elections. However, I do not support party-hopping; this in order to safeguard the nation’s stability and peace, and I hope that an anti-party hopping bill is enacted soon.

As many have noted, Perakians cannot openly express their anger at the sultan as they do not want to show derhaka towards the sultan. As our parents have taught us many times, be wary of the consequences of every action we take.

The consequence of Najib’s actions in the takeover of the Perak government is that it has resulted in the Perak sultan’s reputation being reduced significantly among his subjects.

Power returned to BN but at a very heavy price. In this case, the price is the drastic reduction in the reputation of the Sultan - overnight.

The lesson of this Perak episode is that if Zambry Abdul Kadir does not seek an audience with the Perak sultan to dissolve the Perak state assembly soon, the reputation of the sultan will further slide with time.

It is sad that the sultan has to come into this bleak episode due to the manoeuverings and suffered this loss in reputation. The voices of the people are paramount.

As BN, Umno, the prime minister, deputy prime minister and Zambry claim they are true monarchy supporters, they have no choice other than to request that the sultan dissolve the Perak state assembly. This act is to save Sultan Azlan Shah’s standing.