I refer to Malaysiakini report High drama, violence & 'pokok demokrasi' .

What has happened in Perak where the state assembly sitting was held under a rain tree opposite the assembly building will be etched in the annals of our history books as one of the most shameful incidents, make our democratic principles a laughing stock of the world.

The scuffle between BN supporters who tried to prevent Pakatan Rakyat lawmakers from entering the house is reminiscent of Hitler’s Brown Shirt thugs who beat up the Fuhrer’s opponents prior to World War II.

A ‘Malaysia Boleh’ record will be set again if this incident of having an assembly sitting under a rain tree should be sent to the Guinness Book of World Records as it is the first time in history where a sitting of the assembly was held under a tree. Even Third World countries have better sitting arrangements for their elected representatives.

Never in the history of other democratic countries has there been a case where lawmakers are entering the house to conduct their business were prevented by a full force of police from entering.

There seems to be a blurring of the concept of the separation of powers between the executive, legislature and the judiciary and a major constitutional crisis is in the making if both parties refuse to back down from their demand that they have the right to govern the state.

The underhanded methods used by the authorities to prevent the people’s representatives from attending their meeting in the state secretariat building was unprecedented and undemocratic.

BN’s use of government machinery to frustrate the previous state government’s attempts to get back into power is what you would expect of despots from Third World countries who have no shame in using their police force or army to prevent the people from exercising their democratic rights.

The people’s mandate is sacrosanct in thriving democratic countries. But somehow this was usurped in the Silver State where through political maneuvering, the BN government managed to topple the Pakatan Rakyat and now the state is in a political limbo as there are two persons claiming to be the menteri besar of Perak.

To get out of this political mess, it will be wise if the Perak state assembly is dissolved and state polls are held. Let Perakians decide whom they want to govern them and once state polls are held, this political impasse will be resolved. But knowing BN snatched the Perak government away from Pakatan by dubious ways, it will be political suicide for BN to call for snap polls now in Perak.

A prolonged period of political instability will occur as long as both sides remain adamant that they have the right to control the Perak government. Having two MBs, two sets of executive councillors is rather confusing for the common people to understand.

The Sultan of Perak, with the legal wisdom that he possesses being our former Lord President, will have to step in to resolve this political conflict which has paralysed the state’s administration..

Only His Highness can resolve this deadlock in his state by asking the present government to resign and calling for snap polls to let the rakyat decide on they want to lead them.

The world is watching what is happening in Perak and as a Perakian (I was born in Batu Gajah), I don’t want fellow Perakians to be denied their right to elect leaders whom they are comfortable with to govern the state.

Nearly a year after the last general elections, it seems that our nation is politically unstable and voters feel cheated as their lives are getting worse. Our elected representatives choose to play politics rather than dealing with economic woes that are hitting our shores with a vengeance.

Where are the good leaders that can lead us out of this political mess that is unprecedented in our nation’s history? Sadly, there are none and this does not bode well for our country’s future.