The federal government allegedly uses money politics and agencies like the civil service, police, mainstream media and judiciary to topple and seize power from opposition-led state governments.

History has shown that opposition held states like Sabah, Kelantan and Trengganu had fallen prey to this trend. And the latest to join the list is the Pakatan Rakyat-led Perak.

prof dr abdul aziz bari Constitutional law expert Prof Abdul Aziz Bari concluded this in his speech at the 'Perak crisis - the law and politics' forum in Ipoh yesterday.

"The civil service in the country has been brainwashed with promises of monetary gains and promotional opportunities into giving their blind loyalty to the federal government.

"The judiciary system is lenient when it comes to the federal government but takes a hard stand on state governments especially the opposition," he said, adding that the police's loyalty and support lies with the government of the day.

Calling it a 'blessing in disguise', Abdul Aziz said the Perak crisis has served as a wake-up call for people’s power.

"Political power was used wrongly to (seize power) and (Prime Minister) Najib (Abdul Razak) did not expect the backlash from the people," he said.

Najib willing to sacrifice Perak

m kulasegaran At this juncture, Ipoh Barat DAP MP M Kulasegaran, who was among the audience, told Abdul Aziz that the anger of Perakians has snowballed to the federal government.

"Najib sees Perak as a liability and is ready to sacrifice it as the federal government is far more important to him," he said.

Abdul Aziz also emphasised that the March 8 political tsunami has seen the growth of the alternative media and the slow demise of the mainstream media, which has been termed as the government's propaganda machinery.

He clarified that although Malaysia follows the Westminister system, the concept is different in Malaysia as there are two types of laws governing the state governments and federal government.

He also stated that the rotation of the state sultans as the king was not practised by the British government which has only the queen as head of state who does not interfere in the political affairs of United Kingdom.